After years as a local issue, national media turned to the Flint water crisis in 2016
Number of Flint water crisis-related stories identified in the local/regional and national news outlets studied
Jan 16
President Obama declares state of emergency and offers $5M in aid
Apr 20
Criminal charges filed
Jan 4–5
State of emergency declared in Genesee County and Michigan
Mar 6
Democratic presidential candidates hold a debate in Flint
May 4
Obama addresses Flint
250 stories
200
150
Local/
regional media
100
50
National
media
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.
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
After years as a local issue, national media turned to the Flint water crisis in 2016
Number of Flint water crisis-related stories identified in the local/regional and national news outlets studied
Local/regional
National
May 4
Obama addresses Flint
Apr 20
Criminal charges filed
Mar 6
Democratic presidential candidates hold a debate in Flint
Jan 16
President Obama declares state of emergency and offers $5M in aid
250 stories
200
Jan 4–5
State of emergency declared in Genesee County and Michigan
150
100
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.
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
After years as a local issue, national media turned to the Flint water crisis in 2016
Number of Flint water crisis-related stories identified in the local/regional and national news outlets studied
Local/regional
National
B
D
A
E
C
250 stories
200
150
100
50
0
2014
2015
2016
A
Jan 4–5 State of emergency declared in Genesee County and Michigan
Jan 16 President Obama declares state of emergency and offers $5M in aid
B
Mar 6 Democratic presidential candidates hold a debate in Flint
C
Apr 20 Criminal charges filed
D
May 4 Obama addresses Flint
E
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.
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
