2009-05-05-皮尤-Local_TV_A_Top_Source_For_Swine_Flu_News_14页_70kb

Summary of Pew Research Center's News Interest Index on Swine Flu

Public Interest and Engagement

The swine flu outbreak in early 2009 was a top news story, with nearly 40% of Americans following it more closely than other topics. Media coverage dedicated 31% of news content to the issue, indicating high public interest.

Media Sources Usage

Local television news was the most used source for obtaining information about swine flu, cited by 69% of respondents. Cable news networks followed with 63%, surpassing traditional sources such as network news (53%) and newspapers (48%). The internet was widely used (49%) but ranked first in usefulness.

Perceived Usefulness of Sources

When asked for the most useful source, the internet ranked highest (25%). Demographics influenced preferences: younger adults favored the internet, while older adults leaned toward TV and newspapers. Only 23% of local TV viewers cited it as most useful, reflecting lower perceived value despite high usage.

Public Worry Levels

Americans expressed moderate concern about swine flu exposure, with 36% very or somewhat worried. This compared to past public health scares like SARS. Women and residents of the South showed higher worry, but age, education, and parental status had little impact on concerns.

Media Coverage Perception

Most Americans (62%) rated the press's coverage as excellent or good, but 42% felt the coverage was excessive. Those highly worried about exposure gave higher positive ratings, while less worried groups were more critical.

Comparison to Other News

Swine flu interest equaled historical outbreaks like SARS but was exceeded only slightly by economic news and auto industry issues. Public focus shifted from past crises, showing similarities in media engagement with infectious diseases.