The Internet’s Role in Campaign 2008
A majority of American adults went online in 2008 to keep informed about political developments and to get involved with the election.
Focus Shifts Overseas as Economic News Recedes
Coverage of the financial meltdown dropped to its lowest level in months last week as Somali pirates, a trip to Turkey, a deadly earthquake and a defiant missile launch dominated the news agenda. Is it a trend or an anomaly?
Bloggers Focus on April Fools’ Joke, Interrogation, and an Actress
Bloggers and social media eschewed the economic crisis and European summitry last week to focus on a group of diverse topics ranging from journalism to political activism to environmentalism. Meanwhile the week’s most viewed YouTube video featured a trick shot from a basketball superstar.
Obama’s Trip Closely Followed
Summary of Findings Americans tracked President Obama’s first European trip more closely than other major news stories last week and much more closely than George W. Bush’s first year international summit travels in 2001. A quarter say they followed Obama’s trip and meetings with foreign leaders very closely, while 35% say they followed the trip […]
Overseas and at Home, Economy Dominates
Yes, Michelle Obama set some hearts a flutter and generated some headlines when she laid hands on the Queen last week. But most of the coverage of the President’s overseas trip focused on the same challenge he faces at home.
Little Sign of Obama Fatigue
Summary of Findings No one has gotten more media coverage and attention in recent months than Barack Obama, but only about a third of Americans (34%) say they are hearing too much about the nation’s new president. More than half (54%) say they are hearing the right amount about Obama as he works to put […]
Bloggers Focus First on the Economy and Then on a Strange Prank
The economic crisis again dominated blogs and social media last week, as the conversation expanded from AIG to several different elements of the financial meltdown. And the most viewed video was an overseas variation on the same theme.
Geithner’s Plan Drives the Economic Narrative
Another aspect of the financial crisis took center stage last week as the storyline moved from the AIG bonuses to Tim Geithner’s plan for “toxic assets” in the financial sector. The verdict is far from final, but Geithner seemed to at least stem a recent run of negative news.
Local TV News Reports a Drop in Revenue, Ratings
How popular was local television as a source for news in 2008? How did ratings for morning, evening and late night newscasts fare? These questions and more are answered in the Local TV chapter of the State of the News Media 2009 report.
AIG Bonuses Drive the Online Conversation
With the AIG bonuses fueling outrage, the economic crisis received more attention from the social media last week than any other topic since PEJ began its NMI two months ago. And the week’s most viewed video was a casting call that turned into a stampede.
