Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Coverage of the conflict in Afghanistan got a big boost last week after the WikiLeaks organization unearthed classified reports casting doubts on the prospects for U.S. success there. But in a balanced news week, a key ruling in the Arizona immigration battle, the departure of an embattled BP CEO and a sluggish economy shared the media’s attention.
Most experts surveyed in Pew Internet/Elon University study say cloud computing is taking over; some warn about security, privacy, availability of broadband spectrum, and issues related to consumer choice and control.
A presidential mention, and intense interest from talk show hosts, pushed a proposed Islamic center in New York City to the top of the news agenda last week. Meanwhile, a milestone in the drawdown of troops in Iraq attracted more media coverage than the war has received in more than a year.
Summary of Findings In evaluating news coverage of different groups, pluralities of Americans say that coverage of poor people and Muslims is too negative, while somewhat smaller percentages say the same about coverage of blacks and Hispanics. Among eight groups tested, whites and middle-class people are the only groups that majorities say are treated fairly […]
Searching for ourselves online The majority of adult internet users (57%) now use search engines to find information about themselves online, up from 47% in 2006. Internet users have become increasingly likely to use search engines to check up on their digital footprints. Since our last survey in 2006, search engines have vastly expanded their […]
The oil spill that won’t stop gushing became the story that won’t stop growing as the Gulf disaster coverage, fueled by a Presidential admission and a failed effort to cap the leak, reached new heights last week. No other subject—including a political controversy, a skittish stock market, the immigration issue or tensions in the Korean peninsula—came close to matching the spill’s coverage.
The environmental disaster in the Gulf continued its month-long run among the roster of top stories last week as the narrative focused on assigning blame for the spill. The newest Supreme Court nominee attracted detractors and supporters, but not as much coverage as her immediate predecessor.
American adults are just as likely to have texted while driving as teenagers – and substantially more likely than teens to have talked on their cell phones while driving.
Overview of responses Background “Cloud” is a metaphor for the internet. “Cloud computing” is a phrase that is being used today to describe the act of storing, accessing, and sharing data, applications, and computing power in cyberspace. The concepts of storing data in remote locations or renting the use of tools only when you need […]