Public Still More Interested in Economy than Elections
The public gives mixed ratings to the media for the job they have done covering the midterms. Also, nearly half say the GOP will gain control of the House.
Chilean Miners Captivate Public News Interest
While the public appears increasingly attentive to election news, far more followed news about the dramatic rescue in Chile.
Fewer Journalists Stand Out in Fragmented News Universe
No journalist is named by more than 5% of the public in response to an open-ended question. Also, more Americans now say that based on what they have heard or read, the GOP will win control of the House in November.
Shifting Perceptions of Economic Coverage
Perceptions of media coverage of the economy since October 2008 vary dramatically by party. Also, the press are still far more interested in the midterms than the public.
Elections: High Coverage, Low Public Interest
While most Americans have heard at least a little about a possible GOP takeover of the House, few have heard a lot about the GOP’s “Pledge” or Stewart and Colbert’s rallies in Washington.
How You Feel About Midterms Depends on Your Party
Republicans are more likely to say this year’s election is more important than most and that news coverage of politics makes them angry. They are also more upbeat about their preferred candidates’ chances in November than are Democrats or independents.
Public Focused on Tensions over Islam
As the nation marked the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks last week, many in the public and the media focused more on current tensions over Islam in America.
Americans Spending More Time Following the News
Americans are increasingly integrating new technologies into their news consumption habits. As a result, the average time spent with the news is as high as it was in the mid-1990s.
Views of Economic News Little Changed
The public’s perceptions of economic news remain mixed, but continue to be much more negative than they were earlier this year.
Public Divided Over Tone of Mosque Fight
Among those who see the debate as rude and disrespectful, most say opponents of the Islamic center are mostly to blame.
