report | Sep 21, 2011

Economic Stories Top Public Interest and Coverage

Overview Amid continued worries about the health of the nation’s economy and persistent unemployment, the debate in Washington over President Obama’s jobs legislation topped the public’s news interest last week. Nearly a quarter of the public (23%) says they followed the back and forth over Obama’s proposal more closely than any other news last week, […]

report | Sep 18, 2011

The Debate Over Jobs Leads the News

While Barack Obama hit the road to sell his jobs bill, the media reminded him that it will have to get past Congress—a feat that looked more difficult by the day. And once again, Texas Governor Rick Perry emerged as the central figure in a GOP presidential debate that featured a harsh exchange over vaccinations.

report | Sep 15, 2011

A High-Profile High-Tech Firing Galvanizes Social Media

News about two major tech companies generated plenty of attention on both blogs and Twitter last week. One involved an abrupt changing of the guard at Yahoo and the other was an interesting addition to the Google portfolio. On YouTube, some strange animals were the top stories.

report | Sep 13, 2011

9/11 Commemorations Capture Public Attention

Overview The 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks topped the public’s news interest last week, but Americans also continued to closely track news about the nation’s struggling economy. About a quarter (27%) say they followed coverage of the solemn 9/11 anniversary more closely than any other news. Nearly as many (23%) say they […]

report | Sep 10, 2011

A Pivotal Presidential Speech Drives the News

In a crowded news week, the economy was the top story, followed by an intensifying 2012 presidential race. The week ended with news of a new terror warning and sober reflection on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

report | Sep 7, 2011

Irene Aftermath Top Story for Public, Media

Overview The aftermath of Hurricane Irene was the top story for the public and the media last week, as flooding worsened in many East Coast states well after the storm winds had died down. More than a third of the public (36%) say that the impact of the hurricane was the news they followed most […]

report | Sep 6, 2011

Irene’s Aftermath Tops the News

Even after it had passed, the hurricane that slammed the East Coast continued to be the top news story across the U.S. last week as damage mounted. A scheduling skirmish over a presidential speech made the economy the No. 2 story while the hunt for a deposed dictator was a smaller story than his fleeing the capital.

report | Sep 1, 2011

Quotes, Tributes and Puns About the Steve Jobs Resignation Fill Twitter

The resignation of the admired businessman and inventor dominated Twitter for the week, far outpacing a pair of natural disasters on the East Coast. On YouTube an international basketball brawl drew significant attention while bloggers were stunned at the size of our national debt.

report | Aug 30, 2011

Hurricane Irene Top Story for Public

 Overview Hurricane Irene was the public’s top news story last week in a busy seven days that included an unusual and widely-felt East Coast earthquake and major developments in Libya. About four-in-ten (41%) say that Irene was the news story they followed most closely last week, according to the latest weekly News Interest Index survey, […]

report | Aug 27, 2011

From Tripoli to the East Coast, a Week of Big Events

There were no late summer news doldrums last week as the apparent conclusion of a civil war and a pair of natural disasters topped the news. The rebel takeover of Libya generated the biggest week of attention to that conflict in five months while an earthquake and a hurricane brought the media focus back to the Northeast United States.

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