---
title: "Scandal Launches Election to Top Story"
description: "The Project for Excellence in Journalism did not issue a News Index report this week, but the data is still available."
date: "2011-11-06"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2011/11/06/pej-news-coverage-index-october-31-november-6-2011/"
---

# Scandal Launches Election to Top Story

![](/sites/assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/u52/top_5_46.png)

The Projectect for Excellence in Journalism did not issue a regular News Index report this week. Instead we published [this report](/analysis_report/media_and_herman_cain) which takes an indepth look into the campaign and Herman Cain's rough week. You can also view the week's data.

View the week's [Top Ten Story List](/tables_top_ten_story_data_october_31_november_6_2011)

View the week's [Top Five Story Charts ](/chart_top_five_stories_sector_october_31_november_6_2011)

## Top Ten Story Data: October 31 - November 6, 2011

### Overall (All 5 Sectors)

| Rank | Story | Percent of Newshole |
| --- | --- | --- |

| 1 | 2012 Presidential Election  | 29%  |

| 2 | Economy  | 19  |

| 3 | European Economy  | 9  |

| 4 | October Snowstorm  | 3  |

| 5 | Michael Jackson Trial  | 3  |

| 6 | Middle East Unrest  | 3  |

| 7 | Pakistan | 2  |

| 8 | US Auto Industry  | 1  |

| 9 | Madoff Banking Scam  | 1  |

### Newspapers

| Rank | Story | Percent of Newshole |
| --- | --- | --- |

| 1 | Economy  | 19%  |

| 2 | 2012 Presidential Election  | 16  |

| 3 | European Economy  | 9  |

| 4 | Japan Quake/ Tsunami  | 4  |

| 5 | October Snowstorm  | 4  |

| 6 | Health Care Debate  | 3  |

| 7 | Middle East Unrest  | 3  |

| 8 | Pakistan | 3  |

| 9 | Joplin Tornado | 3  |

### Online

| Rank | Story | Percent of Newshole |
| --- | --- | --- |

| 1 | 2012 Presidential Election  | 21%  |

| 2 | Economy  | 21  |

| 3 | European Economy  | 15  |

| 4 | Michael Jackson Trial  | 4  |

| 5 | Madoff Banking Scam  | 3  |

| 6 | US Auto Industry  | 3  |

| 7 | October Snowstorm  | 3  |

| 8 | Middle East Unrest  | 3  |

| 9 | Pakistan  | 2  |

### Network TV

| Rank | Story | Percent of Newshole |
| --- | --- | --- |

| 1 | 2012 Presidential Election  | 22%  |

| 2 | Economy  | 20  |

| 3 | European Economy  | 8  |

| 4 | October Snowstorm  | 6  |

| 5 | Michael Jackson Trial  | 5  |

| 6 | Madoff Banking Scam  | 3  |

| 7 | Middle East Unrest  | 3  |

| 8 | Pakistan  | 2  |

| 9 | Obama Administration  | 2  |

### Cable TV

| Rank | Story | Percent of Newshole |
| --- | --- | --- |

| 1 | 2012 Presidential Election  | 52%  |

| 2 | Economy  | 13  |

| 3 | Mexican Drug War  | 3  |

| 4 | European Economy  | 3  |

| 5 | Middle East Unrest  | 2  |

| 6 | Michael Jackson Trial  | 2  |

| 7 | October Snowstorm  | 2  |

| 8 | Obama Administration  | 2  |

| 9 | Iran  | 1  |

### Radio

| Rank | Story | Percent of Newshole |
| --- | --- | --- |

| 1 | 2012 Presidential Election  | 33%  |

| 2 | Economy  | 23  |

| 3 | European Economy  | 9  |

| 4 | Afghanistan  | 5  |

| 5 | Immigration Debate  | 2  |

| 6 | Mexican Drug War  | 1  |

| 7 | Health Care Debate  | 1  |

| 8 | Solyndra Scandal  | 1  |

| 9 | Middle East Unrest  | 1  |