Flint water crisis draws local and regional news media attention as the extent of water contamination comes to light
Number of Flint water crisis-related stories identified in the local/regional and national news outlets studied
Local/regional media
National media
Oct 1
Genesee County issues public health emergency
Dec 14
State of emergency declared in Flint
250 stories
Jan 2
City of Flint issues warning that water contains high levels of toxic byproducts
200
Sep 25
Flint issues lead warning
Oct 16
Flint reconnects to Detroit water
150
Feb 3
Gov. Snyder approves $2M for water system improvements
100
50
0
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
2014
2015
2016
Note: Data represent stories identified in local, regional and national news media and were retrieved from LexisNexis and ProQuest News & Newspapers databases. Local and regional news media include daily, weekly and alt-weekly newspapers in the Flint and Detroit regions, as well as the digital outlet MLive.com. National news media include national newspapers and TV network evening programming. For a full list of news outlets, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center audit of local, regional and national news coverage of the Flint water crisis, Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Flint water crisis draws local and regional news media attention as the extent of water contamination comes to light
Number of Flint water crisis-related stories identified in the local/regional and national news outlets studied
Local/regional
National
Dec 14
State of emergency declared in Flint
Oct 16
Flint reconnects to Detroit water
250 stories
Oct 1
Genesee County issues public health emergency
200
Feb 3
Gov. Snyder approves $2M for water system improvements
Sep 25
Flint issues lead warning
150
100
Jan 2
City of Flint issues warning that water contains high levels of toxic byproducts
50
0
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
2014
2015
2016
Note: Data represent stories identified in local, regional and national news media and were retrieved from LexisNexis and ProQuest News & Newspapers databases. Local and regional news media include daily, weekly and alt-weekly newspapers in the Flint and Detroit regions, as well as the digital outlet MLive.com. National news media include national newspapers and TV network evening programming. For a full list of news outlets, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center audit of local, regional and national news coverage of the Flint water crisis, Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Flint water crisis draws local and regional news media attention as the extent of water contamination comes to light
Number of Flint water crisis-related stories identified in the local/regional and national news outlets studied
Local/regional
National
250 stories
F
D
200
C
150
E
B
100
A
50
0
2014
2015
2016
A
Jan 2 City of Flint issues warning that water contains high levels of toxic byproducts
Feb 3 Gov. Snyder approves $2M for water system improvements
B
Sep 25 Flint issues lead warning
C
Oct 1 Genesee County issues public health emergency
D
Oct 16 Flint reconnects to Detroit water
E
Dec 14 State of emergency declared in Flint
F
Note: Data represent stories identified in local, regional and national news media and were retrieved from LexisNexis and ProQuest News & Newspapers databases. Local and regional news media include daily, weekly and alt-weekly newspapers in the Flint and Detroit regions, as well as the digital outlet MLive.com. National news media include national newspapers and TV network evening programming. For a full list of news outlets, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center audit of local, regional and national news coverage of the Flint water crisis, Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
