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% |
