---
title: "In Busy News Week, Economy Leads"
description: "The Project for Excellence in Journalism did not publish a news index report this week. However, the data is available."
date: "2012-02-22"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2012/02/22/busy-news-week-economy-leads/"
---

# In Busy News Week, Economy Leads

The Project for Excellence in Journalism did not publish a news index report this week. However, the data is available [here](/tables_top_ten_story_data_february_1319_2012).

## Top Ten Story Data: February 13-19, 2012

### Overall (All 5 Sectors)

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

| 1 | Economy  | 16% |

| 2 | 2012 Presidential Election | 16 |

| 3 | Whitney Houston Dies | 10 |

| 4 | Middle East Unrest | 6 |

| 5 | Iran | 5 |

| 6 | Health Care Debate | 4 |

| 7 | China | 3 |

| 8 | European Economy | 2 |

| 9 | Afghanistan | 2 |

### Newspapers

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

| 1 | Economy  | 13% |

| 2 | 2012 Presidential Election | 12 |

| 3 | China | 9 |

| 4 | Middle East Unrest | 6 |

| 5 | European Economy | 5 |

| 6 | Afghanistan | 4 |

| 7 | Education System | 4 |

| 8 | Iran | 3 |

| 9 | Health Care Debate | 3 |

### Online

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

| 1 | Economy | 22% |

| 2 | 2012 Presidential Election | 13 |

| 3 | Iran | 10 |

| 4 | Whitney Houston Dies | 9 |

| 5 | Middle East Unrest | 8 |

| 6 | Afghanistan | 3 |

| 7 | European Economy | 3 |

| 8 | Nigerian NWA Terror Attempt | 2 |

| 9 | China | 2 |

### Network TV

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

| 1 | 2012 Presidential Election  |  15% |

| 2 | Whitney Houston Dies | 13 |

| 3 | Economy | 9 |

| 4 | Iran | 7 |

| 5 | Middle East Unrest  | 4 |

| 6 | Jeremy Lin News | 4 |

| 7 | Nuclear Policy Issues | 3 |

| 8 | China | 3 |

| 9 | Honduras Prison Fire | 2 |

### Cable TV

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

| 1 | 2012 Presidential Election | 25% |

| 2 | Whitney Houston Dies | 18 |

| 3 | Economy | 15 |

| 4 | Health Care Debate | 8 |

| 5 | Middle East Unrest | 6 |

| 6 | Iran | 3 |

| 7 | Terror Threats/ Homeland Security | 2 |

| 8 | Obama Administration | 2 |

| 9 | Abortion Controversy  | 2 |

### Radio

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

| 1 | Economy | 21% |

| 2 | 2012 Presidential Election | 15 |

| 3 | Health Care Debate | 7 |

| 4 | Middle East Unrest | 6 |

| 5 | Scott Walker Recall Efforts | 5 |

| 6 | Whitney Houston Dies | 5 |

| 7 | China | 3 |

| 8 | Education System | 3 |

| 9 | Iran | 2 |