News Media Trends

The most significant development online after the attack has been the outpouring of grief, prayerful communication, information dissemination through email, and political commentary.

Introduction and Summary Americans are standing tall at a time of crisis — they are united in their approval of the nation’s leaders, paying rapt attention to news, and say they are willing to suffer thousands of military casualties in a protracted conflict to retaliate for last week’s terrorist attacks. But at the same time […]

The Internet was not a primary resource for news for most Americans after the terror attacks, but was a helpful supplement to TV and the telephone; many found it useful for expressing their sorrow and anger.

Introduction and Summary Six months into her husband’s presidency, Laura Bush has made a positive impression on the American public. A strong majority (64%) has a favorable opinion of the first lady, and most approve of the way she’s handling her job. Although her predecessor, Hillary Clinton, drew a comparable favorability rating of 60% at […]

Introduction and Summary Despite the news media’s intense focus on the disappearance of Chandra Levy and her relationship with Rep. Gary Condit, public interest in the story is relatively low, particularly when compared to other celebrity scandal cases in recent years that have attracted massive media attention. The latest Pew Research Center survey, conducted July […]

by Andrew Kohut for Columbia Journalism Review

A review of the early press coverage of George W. Bush's administration reveals some unexpected and troubling features of contemporary political journalism: even the most serious newspapers in the country have pulled back dramatically on covering the presidency.

Did George W. Bush really get an easier ride from the media in his first months in office?

Senator Lieberman Gave First Major Speech on Religion and Politics Since Campaign at Forum Launch “The challenge ahead of us now, if we hope to respond to the public’s yearning for a better balance between faith and freedom, is as much political as it is legal. Those of us who are seeking a suitable space […]

Coming from press critics, the following may strike some as out of character: We believe journalism should be praised for its work in the wild epilogue of election 2000. One reason the American people seemed calm but fascinated during the spectacle--even as they witnessed sometimes disgraceful ta ...