Political Issues

reportAug 18, 2009

President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Updated Sept. 9, 2009 On Feb. 5, 2009, two weeks after taking office, President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The new office retains the basic administrative structure of President George W. Bush’s White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The central White House […]
reportAug 13, 2009

Pakistani Public Opinion

Pakistani public opinion has turned against al Qaeda and the Taliban, and no fewer than 69% of those polled express worry that extremists will take control of the nation. Ratings for President Asif Ali Zardari have also plummeted, as Pakistanis see their country in crisis.
presentationAug 13, 2009

Social Media’s Promise for Public Health

Participation Powers Prevention was the theme of the National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing & Media. Susannah Fox presented the latest data on social media and health care.
reportAug 12, 2009

The Starting Line–Media Coverage of the Faith-Based Initiative in the First Six Months of 2001 and 2009

One common thread between the Obama and Bush administrations is their commitment to advancing the “faith-based” initiative. Yet a new study by PEJ and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that the media created two very different narratives in the early days of the two presidencies.
reportAug 12, 2009

Media Coverage of the Faith-Based Initiative in the First Six Months of 2001 and 2009

Navigate this Report: Accounting for Differences in Coverage Scope and Timing of the Coverage Response to the Initiative Becomes the Narrative Faith Traditions Highlighted in 2001 and 2009 An Inside-the-Beltway Story Methodology When he took over the White House in January 2009, President Barack Obama quickly adopted much of the “faith-based initiative” put into place […]
short readsAug 10, 2009

Eight Years After 9/11, Fewer See Need to Sacrifice Liberties for Safety

Only a quarter of Americans say it is necessary to give up some civil liberties to curb terrorism, down from 55% shortly after the attacks of 9/11.
reportAug 7, 2009

Go West, Old Man

If a latter-day Ponce de Leon were to search for a modern fountain of youth, he’d do well to explore America’s West. There he’d find the highest concentration of older adults in the United States who don’t think of themselves as old.
reportJul 30, 2009

Obama’s Ratings Slide Across the Board

Overview Barack Obama’s approval ratings have suffered major declines. The president’s overall job approval number fell from 61% in mid-June to 54% currently. His approval ratings for handling the economy and the federal budget deficit have also fallen sharply, tumbling to 38% and 32%, respectively. Majorities now say they disapprove of the way the president […]
short readsJul 30, 2009

Limited Black Confidence in Police

Only about half (55%) of all African Americans express confidence in the police to do a good job enforcing the law.
reportJul 29, 2009

Health News Coverage in the U.S. Media, Early 2009

Coverage of health news is on the rise according to an examination of media coverage from January to June 2009. Which health news topics generated the biggest headlines in 2009? What media sectors pay the most attention to health care? These questions and more are answered in a new study, produced by PEJ and the Kaiser Family Foundation.