report | Sep 8, 2009

From Health Care to Wildfires, a Broad Diet of News

Thanks to speculation about Barack Obama’s crucial September 9 speech, the health care debate was, once again, the week’s leading story.  But press attention more generally was split among a series of significant events, both at home and abroad.

report | Aug 31, 2009

The Death of a Liberal Lion Commands the News

The passing of the last of the fabled Kennedy brothers easily led last week’s news agenda and generated a host of storylines. And for the first time in more than a month, the fractious health care debate was relegated to the sidelines.

report | Aug 24, 2009

Health Care, Afghanistan Emerge as the Summer’s Big Stories

The fight over health care legislation continued to dominate the news, but with a narrative twist that was tough on Barack Obama. And a crucial election kept the spotlight on Afghanistan, a conflict increasingly showing up in the headlines.

report | Aug 17, 2009

Anger and Rancor Fuel Cable’s Health Care Coverage

Coverage of the debate over health care policy increased dramatically, dominating the news agenda last week. But with contentious shouting matches and overheated rhetoric driving the narrative, America’s news consumers may have gotten more heat than light.

report | Aug 10, 2009

Town Hall Showdowns Fuel Health Care Coverage

Last week, the health care debate remained the lead story as talk hosts argued about whether the confrontations between protestors and politicians were genuine or choreographed. And thanks to a dramatic prisoner release in North Korea, a former president made almost as much news as the current one.

report | Aug 3, 2009

High-Stakes Health Care Fight Drives the News

The polarizing debate over health care policy was the No. 1 story for the second week in a row—with much of the coverage focused on the implications for Barack Obama. Meanwhile, economic news took a turn for the optimistic and the “birthers” got 15 minutes (and maybe more) in the media spotlight.

report | Jul 27, 2009

From Health Care to “Skip” Gates, Obama Makes Big News

With the political battle over health care legislation intensifying in Washington, that subject generated its highest level of coverage, by far, last week. But a remark by the president at the end of his health care press conference quickly changed the news agenda.

report | Jul 20, 2009

Sotomayor Hearings Lead the News Without Making News

The media geared up for fireworks and drama when senators questioned Barack Obama’s first Supreme Court nominee. But the narrative turned out very differently. And coverage of the economic crisis seems stuck in a predictable pattern.

report | Jul 10, 2009

Jackson’s (and Palin’s) Star Power Drive the Media Narrative

As has been the case since his death, Michael Jackson dominated the headlines last week—with his July 7 memorial service as the major newsmaker. And while the struggling economy continued to generate attention, the No. 3 story was the ongoing press buzz over the outgoing Alaska Governor.

report | Jul 7, 2009

As the Plot Thickens, the Jackson Saga Dominates

There were major events at home and abroad last week. But the media spotlight remained on the “King of Pop” as the story expanded from recollections of his career and tributes from his fans to a series of medical, legal and possibly even criminal issues.

Refine Your Results