2007-08-22-皮尤-Utah_Miners_Top_News_Interest_14页_67kb

Key Findings

Utah Miners Trapped in Mine: Public interest peaked at 34% for very close attention, making it the most followed story, with 7% of the national newshole from media coverage down from the previous week.

Iraq Situation: Held steady interest at 33% very close attention, with media coverage unchanged; 16% followed it most closely, compared to 36% the prior week.

Chinese Products Recall: Attracted 28% very close attention, with media coverage higher at 4%, particularly affecting parents of young children, who showed higher interest.

Stock Market and Economic News: Interest was modest at 19% very close attention; media devoted 7% of coverage to the stock market. Economic topics like gas and energy prices saw broad interest (69% following pretty regularly), while stock market news was more niche, with higher engagement among affluent and educated individuals.

General News Interest: Campaign news and Karl Rove's resignation saw modest interest (19% and 14% very close attention, respectively). Media coverage often outpaced public interest, with stories like Rove's resignation getting 7% of the newshole despite low public follow.

Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis: 39% reported hearing a lot about the issue, but understanding was low, with only 20% feeling very well informed.

Economic News Patterns

• Topic-Specific Interest: High, steady interest in gas/energy prices (69% pretty regular followers) and job situation (40%), while stock and housing market news required more affluent or educated audiences.
• Demographic Variations: Older Americans, women, and lower-income groups showed higher interest in consumer prices. Higher education and income correlated with interest in complex economic issues.
• News Sources: Television (79%) and internet (39%) were primary sources for economic news, with active traders relying more on the internet for real-time updates.

Comparison of Media Coverage vs. Public Interest

• Media coverage often exceeded public interest levels for many stories. For example, the Utah mine story had 7% coverage but dominated public attention, while other stories saw higher coverage with less public engagement.