Public Closely Follows Midwest Storms
The devastating tornadoes that struck Missouri last week dominated the public’s news interest. Also, three-quarters say they heard at least a little about the end of Oprah’s talk show.
Twitter Update 2011
Currently, 13% of online adults use the status update service Twitter, up from 8% in November 2010. More than half of Twitter users access the service via their cell phones. African-American and Latino internet users continue to be significantly more likely than whites to be Twitter users.
Tornadoes Top News Agenda
The deadly storms in Joplin, Mo., became the media’s top story, and filled nearly half of all network television news coverage.
Japanese Resilient, but See Economic Challenges Ahead
A majority in Japan believe their country will emerge stronger in the aftermath of the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The Japanese are broadly unhappy with their own government’s handling of the catastrophe, but there is considerable praise for the U.S. Most Japanese, however, also foresee a rocky economic road ahead.
Internet Phone Calls
After years of modest activity, online phone calling has taken off as a quarter of American adult internet users (24%) have placed phone calls online. That amounts to 19% of all American adults.
Strong Support for Israel on Social Media
A special edition of PEJ’s New Media Index examines the tone of the conversation on blogs, Twitter and Facebook following President Obama’s address on the Middle East.
‘Staunch Conservatives’ Are Wary of Wall Street
Nearly three years after the financial crisis that sent the nation’s economy into a tailspin, the public expresses mixed views of Wall Street.
U.S. Hispanics by Country of Origin
Hispanics of Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban origin or descent remain the nation’s three largest Hispanic country-of-origin groups, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Despite their No. 1 status, Mexicans are not the dominant Hispanic origin group in many of the nation’s metropolitan areas.
IMF Chief Arrest: Media’s Top Story Draws Little Public Interest
While the media devoted attention to the arrest of the IMF chief, the public had little interest. But a majority have heard a lot about Schwarzenegger’s troubles.
IMF Chief Arrest Leads News, but Politics Looms Large
An alleged sexual assault with international ramifications was the No. 1 topic, but presidential politics — with Trump and Huckabee leaving and Newt joining — became a big story for the first time this year.
