2010-05-18-皮尤-Gulf_Oil_Leak_Dominates_Public_s_News_Interests_16页_71kb

Pew Research News Analysis Summary

Key Findings:

1. Gulf Oil Leak Dominance:

   • The Gulf oil leak was the most closely followed story by Americans (49% overall), accounting for 17% of media coverage. Coverage grew from 46% the previous week, reflecting increasing public concern.
   • Other top stories included the economy (13% followed closely by 49%),伊拉克 conflict (5%), and Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s nomination (5% followed closely by 22%).

2. Public Interest in Supreme Court Nominees:

   • 60% of respondents believe the media should focus on professional background (65%) and educational background (61%), not personal life or religion.
   • Wide partisan and partisan divides in opinion on press coverage of Kagan’s nomination, with supporters rating it "fair" (64%) while opponents found it "not critical enough."

3. News Coverage Trends:

   • News coverage of Kagan received less attention ("13% of news hole") compared to Sotomayor (24%) a year prior, contributing to lower public awareness (41% aware vs. 51% for Sotomayor).

Core Conclusion:
The Gulf oil leak dominated news interests due to its environmental and economic implications. Public scrutiny of Supreme Court nominees shifted toward professional qualifications, with bipartisan acknowledgment of partisan divides over media framing.