2010-02-16-皮尤-Haiti,_Snowstorms,_Economy_Vie_for_Public_s_Attention_11页_56kb

Summary of the News Interest Index Survey

Core Content

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press conducted a weekly News Interest Index survey from Feb. 12-15, 2010, among 1,029 adults. The survey examined public interest in major news stories and their perception of media coverage. The key topics covered included the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, the U.S. economy, snowstorms on the East Coast and South, the opening of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, concerns about Toyota safety issues, and former President Bill Clinton's heart troubles.

Main Points

• Haiti Earthquake Aftermath:

  • 30% of Americans followed news about Haiti most closely.
  • 37% followed this story very closely, showing continued interest despite the decline in coverage since the earthquake in January.
  • Public opinion on coverage was split, with 65% saying it received the right amount, and 19% saying it received too much.

• U.S. Economy:

  • 21% followed news about the economy most closely.
  • 35% followed this news very closely, down slightly from the previous week.
  • 46% felt the economy received the right amount of coverage, while 34% wanted more coverage, indicating strong public concern.

• Winter Storms:

  • 20% followed news about the storms most closely.
  • 39% followed this story very closely, with higher interest in the Northeast and South.
  • 70% believed the storms received about the right amount of coverage, with 22% saying it was too much and 5% too little.

• Winter Olympics in Vancouver:

  • 10% followed this story most closely.
  • 18% followed it very closely, lower than the interest during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

• Toyota Safety Issues:

  • 4% followed this story most closely.
  • 15% followed it very closely, a decline from the previous week.
  • 25% felt the story received too much coverage, with 56% saying it received the right amount.

• Bill Clinton's Heart Problems:

  • 1% followed this story most closely.
  • 11% followed it very closely, compared to 19% during his 2004 heart surgery.
  • 29% felt the story received too much coverage, with 56% saying it received the right amount.

Key Information

• Partisan Divide:

  • There were differences in perceptions of coverage. For example, Republicans were more likely than Democrats to believe Clinton's heart troubles received too much coverage.
  • Coverage of the Haiti earthquake was perceived as appropriate across all political groups, with 65% saying it received the right amount.

• Regional Interest:

  • Interest in snowstorms was highest in the Northeast (56%) and South (49%), with lower interest in the Midwest (29%) and West (16%).

• Coverage Trends:

  • The news coverage of the Haiti aftermath accounted for 5% of the newshole, while snowstorms accounted for 12% and the economy for 10%.
  • The coverage of the Winter Olympics and Toyota issues decreased over time, with the Haiti earthquake and economic news maintaining a relatively high level of public interest.

Methodology

• The survey was conducted in conjunction with the Project for Excellence in Journalism's News Coverage Index, which tracks news content across major media sectors.
• The survey data was collected from Feb. 12-15, 2010, and the coverage data from Feb. 8-14, 2010.
• The survey had a 95% confidence level with a 4% margin of error.

Conclusion

The survey highlights the public's ongoing interest in the Haiti earthquake aftermath and the U.S. economy, while showing that snowstorms and the Winter Olympics also received significant attention. Public perception of coverage was generally positive for most stories, except for the economy, which was seen as under-covered by many. The findings reflect a dynamic media landscape with varying levels of public engagement and differing opinions on the adequacy of news coverage.