2007-03-20-皮尤-Attorney_Firings_Stir_Limited_Public_Interest_11页_59kb

报告摘要

U.S. Attorney Firings Controversy

Despite extensive media coverage, there was limited public interest in the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. Media coverage peaked at 16%, while only 19% of the public followed it closely, and it ranked lower in public interest than past scandals like Whitewater.

Media vs. Public Interest

Newly released data reveals a disconnect: while the media's interest in the story surged eight-fold, the public remained largely indifferent, prioritizing issues like the Iraq War and conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Democrats showed slightly higher interest than Republicans in these attorney firings.

Iraq War Remains Central Concern

The ongoing Iraq War continued to dominate both media coverage and public attention, with widespread focus on returning soldiers' care. Walter Reed medical center issues drew significantly lower media coverage than the previous week but still attracted substantial public interest.

Campaign Focused but Lagging

The 2008 presidential campaign generated moderate media coverage and public interest, though enthusiasm was lower than during prior weeks. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama led in both media mentions and public awareness, particularly among Democrats.

News Sources

Opinions on news organizations' fairness toward the Bush administration were highly partisan, with Republicans expressing greater dissatisfaction.

Stock Market & Bush's Trip

Stories related to the stock market and President Bush's recent diplomatic trip attracted modest public attention, though stock market interest appeared linked particularly to higher-income demographics.