2008-06-04-皮尤-Many_Say_Coverage_is_Biased_in_Favor_of_Obama_18页_92kb

Analysis Summary: 2008 Democratic Primary News Coverage

This summary outlines key findings from the Pew Research Center's News Interest Index report on the 2008 Democratic primary campaign, focusing on public opinion of press bias, coverage trends, and primary process perceptions.

Public Perception of Press Bias

• A significant majority (37%) of Americans believed the press favored Barack Obama during Democratic primary coverage, while only 8% thought it favored Hillary Clinton. Minorities from various groups perceived bias or no bias.
• Public interest remained high, with 54% closely following primary news in late May 2008, peaking during the campaign.

Events of High Interest

• Controversies dominated public awareness, such as Obama's association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright (62% heard about it) and his delegate majority announcement (55%).
• Events like the Clinton-Bosnia sniper fire claims and Obama's "bitter" statement were also widely registered, showing balanced public engagement with both favorable and unfavorable developments.

News Coverage Trends

• Obama was most visible in press coverage and public attention, receiving more media focus than Hillary Clinton or John McCain in many weeks.
• TV remained the primary news source (70%), with internet gaining ground among younger demographics, reflecting evolving media habits.

Attitudes Toward Primary Process and Press Influence

• Sixty percent (60%) of Americans viewed the primary process as not a good way to choose nominees, indicating dissatisfaction with the role of primaries.
• Press influence on nominations was deemed excessive by 66% of the public, up from earlier points in the campaign, highlighting concerns about media's role.

In essence, the report underscores perceived bias in favor of Obama, mixed public engagement with campaign stories, and declining confidence in press coverage and primary processes.