2009-06-03-皮尤-First_Impressions_of_Sotomayor_Mostly_Positive_14页_66kb

Summary of Press Coverage of Sotomayor Nomination

Core Content

The document presents findings from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, based on the May 29-June 1, 2009 News Interest Index survey. It analyzes public perception of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, including the level of public interest in the nomination, the characteristics of the nominee that people like or dislike, and the partisan differences in media coverage perception.

Main Points

• Public Interest in Sotomayor's Nomination:

  • 29% of Americans followed the nomination very closely, the highest since Clarence Thomas's nomination in 1991.
  • 15% of the public followed Sotomayor's nomination more closely than any other major story, placing it on par with interest in North Korea's nuclear tests.
  • The nomination received 24% of the newshole in media coverage, making it the top newsmaker for the week.
  • 26% of Americans said they had learned nothing about Sotomayor.

• Public Perception of Sotomayor:

  • 45% of Americans have learned something they like about Sotomayor, mostly related to her background, experience, gender, and ethnicity.
  • 26% have learned something they dislike, with the most common concerns being racial bias (7%) and judicial activism (5%).
  • 29% of Americans said they had not learned anything they like, and 48% said they had not learned anything they dislike.
  • 26% of Americans said they had not learned anything about Sotomayor at all.

• Partisan Differences:

  • Democrats are more likely to have positive views of Sotomayor, with 58% learning something they like versus 34% for Republicans and 40% for independents.
  • Republicans are more likely to have negative views, with 45% learning something they dislike, compared to 12% for Democrats and 26% for independents.
  • 45% of Americans believe the press coverage of the nomination was fair, with a notable partisan split: 38% of Republicans, 54% of Democrats, and 42% of independents.

• Other Major News Stories:

  • The U.S. economy and General Motors' bankruptcy were the most closely followed stories, with 18% and 15% respectively.
  • 43% of the newshole was devoted to economic coverage, and 7% to GM bankruptcy.
  • North Korea's nuclear activities were also a major focus, with 15% of the public following them closely.
  • News about the California Supreme Court upholding a ban on gay marriage received moderate attention.

Key Information

• Survey Methodology:

  • The survey was conducted on a nationally representative sample of 1,001 adults.
  • It was carried out in conjunction with the Project for Excellence in Journalism's News Coverage Index.
  • The margin of error for the total sample is ±3.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

• Demographics and Media Tone Perception:

  • Women were more likely to perceive the media coverage as too critical (21%) than men (13%).
  • Men were more likely to think the coverage was not critical enough (26%) compared to women (15%).
  • 48% of women and 41% of men saw the coverage as fair.

• Sotomayor's Background and Controversies:

  • Sotomayor is the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court and a Puerto Rican woman who grew up in the Bronx.
  • Some concerns were raised about her potential racial bias and judicial activism, but these were relatively rare.
  • 7% of respondents mentioned racial bias, with 3% claiming she is a racist.
  • 5% mentioned judicial activism, with some linking it to her comments on judges making policy.

• Other News Stories:

  • The California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage was followed closely by 9% of the public, with 22% following it very closely.
  • The military conflict between the Taliban and the Pakistani government received less attention, with only 3% following it most closely.

Conclusion

The document highlights the mixed public reaction to Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination, emphasizing her background as a key positive factor. It also reveals the significant partisan divide in both public perception of her and the media coverage surrounding her nomination. While the nomination was a major news story, it did not overshadow the economy and GM bankruptcy in terms of public interest. The survey underscores the importance of media coverage in shaping public opinion and the varying levels of attention given to different news topics.