2011-09-06-皮尤-Irene_Aftermath_Top_Story_for_Public,_Media_19页_78kb

Summary of the Document

Core Content

This document presents findings from the Pew Research Center's News Interest Index survey, conducted from September 1-4, 2011, which highlights the public's interest in news topics and their perception of the tone of economic news during that period. The survey includes data from both the News Interest Index and the News Coverage Index, providing insights into the relative importance of various news stories and the level of media coverage.

Main Points

• Hurricane Irene was the top news story: The aftermath of Hurricane Irene dominated public and media attention, with 36% of the public following it most closely and it accounting for 20% of news coverage.
• Economic news was second: Economic issues were the second most followed news topic, with 23% of the public focusing on it and 16% of media coverage.
• Economic news perceived as mostly negative: 61% of Americans say they are hearing mostly bad news about the economy, down from 67% in early August but still at high levels.
• Partisan views on economic news: Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all report similar levels of concern, with 66%, 58%, and 65% respectively hearing mostly bad news.
• Regional differences in news interest: Northeast residents were more interested in Hurricane Irene (38% vs. 20% for the economy), while Westerners were more interested in the economy (38% vs. 9% for Irene).
• Other news topics: Interest in other topics like the East Coast earthquake, 2012 elections, and the conflict in Libya was much lower, with only 5%, 5%, and 3% respectively.

Key Information

News Interest vs. News Coverage

Economic News Tone

• 61% of the public heard mostly bad news about the economy in September 2011.
• This is a slight improvement from 67% in early August but still near the high levels seen in early 2009.
• 30% of the public heard a mix of good and bad news in September, up from 25% in August.
• Only 2% heard mostly good news.

Public Interest in Economic News

• 44% of the public followed economic news very closely in the week of September 1-4, 2011.
• This remained consistent with interest in recent weeks as economic issues worsened.
• Interest in the 2012 elections was at 22%, with 9% of the public following it most closely.

News Coverage

• Hurricane Irene accounted for 20% of the media coverage analyzed.
• Economic news accounted for 16% of the coverage.
• News about the 2012 election candidates made up 7% of the coverage.

Other News Topics

• Interest in news about Afghanistan and Libya was modest, with 17% and 6% respectively.
• The public's interest in the U.S. Justice Department's action against the AT&T and T-Mobile merger was low, with only 8% following it very closely.

Methodology

• The survey was conducted among 1,001 adults using a combination of landline and cell phone random digit dial samples.
• The sample was weighted to match demographic parameters from the March 2010 Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.
• Sampling errors are reported for different groups, with a 95% confidence level.

Conclusion

The survey highlights the public's continued concern about the economy and the impact of Hurricane Irene. While the economic news tone has slightly improved, it remains largely negative. Regional and partisan differences in news interest are notable, with the Northeast showing more interest in the hurricane and the West in economic issues. The study underscores the importance of tracking public sentiment alongside media coverage to understand the evolving news landscape.