The Project for Excellence in Journalism found the focus of the journalistic media back on the 2008 political campaign during for week of 4/21/08-4/27/08, a not surprising result of primary votes being cast after about a lengthy lull.
As usual, cable had blinders on to almost everything else, devoting almost three quarters of its attention to politics. Iraq was pushed to the side, and even a major promotion for General David Petraeus couldn’t break into the top ten overall, despite his recent appearance before Congress and the PEJ coverage list. A wide variety of domestic and international issues did one thing, however – for the most part, it kept the more tabloid-style topics off the chart.
In fact, the ongoing saga of the Texas polygamy raid is the only story that can even arguably be put in that category.
| Story | Overall | Newspr | Online | NetTV | CATV | Radio |
| 2008 campaign | 44% | 26% | 30% | 39% | 74% | 48% |
| US economy | 4% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 1% | 1% |
| TX polygamy raid | 3% | X | 5% | 7% | 2% | X |
| World food shortage | 3% | 3% | X | 6% | X | 2% |
| Gas/oil prices | 2% | 2% | X | 4% | X | 6% |
| Israel/Palestine | 2% | X | 6% | 3% | 1% | 3% |
| Syria nuclear reactor | 2% | X | 5% | 3% | 3% | X |
| Zimbabwe elections | 2% | 3% | 6% | X | X | X |
| Iraq events | 2% | 4% | 2% | X | 1% | X |
| China | 2% | 3% | 4% | X | X | X |
| Petraeus/CentCom | X | 3% | X | X | 1% | X |
| Global warming | X | 2% | 2% | X | X | X |
| Murdoch/WSJ | X | 2% | X | X | X | X |
| Health care | X | X | 4% | 1% | X | X |
| Military analysts | X | X | X | 2% | X | X |
| Pollution/emissions | X | X | X | 1% | X | X |
| Immigration | X | X | X | X | 2% | 2% |
| NY cops acquitted | X | X | X | X | 2% | X |
| Iran | X | X | X | X | 1% | X |
| Energy debate | X | X | X | X | X | 4% |
| War on terror | X | X | X | X | X | 2% |
| Domestic terrorism | X | X | X | X | X | 2% |
| Iraq policy | X | X | X | X | X | 2% |
Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism
