The financial crisis has been dominating the debate in Washington, and it dominated all five media journalism categories measured by the Project for Excellence in Journalism during the week of 2/2/09-2/8/09.
It took 44% of all available time and space, and was no lower than 35% in any one category. The Obama administration, still undergoing construction, was the only other story to get into double digits – in fact, overall it was the only other story to get more than a 2% share of the newshole.
Various aspects of the Mideast situation, the Super Bowl, the California octuplets and wide variety of other stories battled it out for a little attention.
Story | Overall | Newspaper | Online | Net.TV | CATV | Radio |
Econonic crisis | 44% | 39% | 38% | 35% | 64% | 39% |
New Obama administration | 17% | 11% | 15% | 16% | 22% | 22% |
Super Bowl | 2% | 2% | x | 3% | x | 12% |
Events in Iraq | 2% | 4% | x | 3% | 1% | x |
Afghanistan | 2% | 2% | 6% | x | x | x |
Octuplets in CA | 2% | x | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Domestic terrorism | 1% | x | 3% | x | 3% | x |
Gaza conflict | 1% | 2% | 3% | x | x | x |
Iran | 1% | x | 2% | x | x | 4% |
Cyberspace issues | 1% | 2% | 2% | x | x | x |
Immigration | x | 2% | x | x | x | x |
US auto industry | x | 2% | 2% | x | x | x |
Energy debate | x | 2% | x | x | x | x |
Sri Lankan conflict | x | x | 2% | x | x | x |
Plane lands in Hudson | x | x | x | 5% | x | x |
Phelps bong controversy | x | x | x | 3% | 1% | x |
Peanut butter/salmonella | x | x | x | 2% | x | 1% |
Papal pardon/holcaust denier | x | x | x | 2% | x | 1% |
Madoff banking scam | x | x | x | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Mexican drug war | x | x | x | x | 1% | x |
Ruth Bader Ginsburg | x | x | x | x | 1% | 3% |
Health care debate | x | x | x | x | x | 1% |