Newspapers, online news sources and network TV thought both the health care and economic crisis stories were important, with the economy on top, but CATV and radio thought health was worth almost a third of the total available newshole, driving its overall coverage share to 19%, over and above the economy’s 14%. The Project for Excellence in Journalism report for 7/27/09-8/2/09 ranked the Henry Louis Gates saga third, and some older narratives (Michael Jackson, swine flu) made repeat appearances.
| Story | Overall | Newspaper | Online | NetTV | CATV | Radio |
| Health care debate | 19% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 32% | 30% |
| Economic Crisis | 14% | 21% | 18% | 13% | 7% | 8% |
| Gates arrest | 8% | x | 7% | 12% | 13% | 9% |
| Michael Jackson dies | 4% | x | 3% | 10% | 7% | 1% |
| Obama administration | 3% | x | x | 2% | 9% | 5% |
| US auto industry | 3% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 4% |
| Swine flu | 3% | x | x | 8% | 2% | x |
| Iran | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% | x | x |
| Afghanistan | 2% | x | x | 2% | x | 6% |
| 2008 presidential election | 2% | 3% | 5% | x | x | x |
| Education system | x | 4% | x | x | x | x |
| China | x | 4% | x | x | x | 1% |
| Iraq homefront | x | 3% | x | x | x | x |
| Events in Iraq | x | 3% | 4% | x | x | x |
| Cyberspace issues | x | 2% | x | x | x | x |
| NC terror suspects | x | x | 5% | x | 2% | x |
| Microsoft/Yahoo agreement | x | x | 2% | x | x | x |
| Sarah Palin | x | x | x | 3% | 4% | x |
| Sen. Dodd’s cancer | x | x | x | x | 2% | x |
| Sonia Sotomayor | x | x | x | x | x | 2% |
| Space Shuttle Endeavor | x | x | x | x | x | 1% |
Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism
