2009-10-04-皮尤-Covering_the_Great_Recession_41页_409kb

Analysis of Media Coverage of the Great Recession Under Obama

I. Dominant Storylines

• The majority of media coverage during Obama's presidency focused on three main themes: efforts to revive the banking sector, debates over the stimulus package, and challenges in the U.S. auto industry.
• These accounted for nearly 40% of economic coverage and emphasized institutional perspectives over individual experiences.
• Less attention was given to issues like housing, unemployment, and broader impacts on ordinary Americans, which had more direct effects.

II. Key Drivers of Coverage

• Government actions, particularly from the Obama administration (32% of triggers), were the primary catalysts for economic news.
• Business initiatives triggered 21% of coverage, while media enterprise accounted for 23%. Ordinary citizens and unions had minimal representation.
• Attributed sources were dominated by government officials (61%), business representatives (40%), and academics; everyday people appeared in only 19% of stories.

III. Geographic and Institutional Focus

• Over 76% of datelines were in New York or Washington, D.C., reinforcing a top-down narrative from financial and political hubs.
• Cable news and talk radio showed strong Washington bias, while newspapers provided more localized and diverse coverage.

IV. Meme Tracker Analysis

• Presidential phrases, especially from Obama's speeches, dominated media discourse (nine of the top 20 memes), with ideas like "we will rebuild" receiving thousands of citations.
• Republicans, including Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, had a smaller share of influential phrases, reflecting limited traction in the narrative.
• Coverage peaked during crises and declined as the economy improved, correlating with reduced political debates.

V. Decline in Economic Coverage

• Media attention dropped significantly after March as market indicators showed improvement, accounting for a 50% decrease in coverage by April.
• The reduction was amplified by competing stories (e.g., health care debates, pop culture events), shifting focus away from the economy.
• Cable and talk radio experienced the steepest declines, while newspapers and PBS maintained higher engagement.

VI. Variation by Media Sector

• Newspapers provided the most comprehensive coverage, favoring enterprise reporting, diverse sources, and local impacts.
• Cable television and conservative talk radio focused on Beltway politics and partisan debates, reducing attention on everyday issues.
• Online and broadcast media saw fluctuations, with newspapers leading in depth but revenue-dependent outlets (like Reuters) emphasizing finance.

Summary Trends

• Media coverage was predominantly top-down, sourced from institutions and elites, underrepresenting ordinary Americans.
• As economic conditions improved, coverage diminished, influenced by institutional factors and competing narratives.
• Sector-specific differences highlight varied approaches, with newspapers offering more depth while cable and radio amplify ideological debates.