The 2012 presidential election remains at the top of the news coverage charts, according to the latest survey from the Project for Excellence in Journalism covering 4/7-13. With 24% of the newshole, it was the only story to break into double-digits in overall attention.
As usual, cable led the way with 37% coverage. Radio is often a strong second in watching presidential election developments, but during this particular week it just barely edged out online news sources by a 26%-25% margin.
The sequence of events that began with a statement from VP Joe Biden to a reconsidered policy stance from President Barack Obama propelled the same-sex marriage debate into a three-way tie for 2nd place with the economy and the ongoing terror-threat saga. All three narratives picked up 8% of overall coverage.
The undercard 2012 elections also picked up enough coverage during the week to make all but the online top ten list – likely due to the upset in Indiana of long-time Senate veteran Dick Lugar (R-IN) by challenger Richard Mourdock.
| Story | Overall | Nwspr | Online | NetTV | CATV | Radio |
| 2012 presidential election | 24% | 13% | 25% | 16% | 37% | 26% |
| Economy | 8% | 10% | 6% | 9% | 6% | 17% |
| Same-sex marriage debate | 8% | 6% | 3% | 8% | 14% | 13% |
| Terror threats/security | 8% | 7% | 5% | 14% | 9% | 4% |
| European economy | 5% | 6% | 8% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| 2012 non-pres elections | 3% | 6% | x | 4% | 3% | 4% |
| Maurice Sendak dies | 3% | 5% | 5% | 2% | x | x |
| Mayes murder/kidnapping | 2% | x | 6% | 2% | 2% | x |
| Afghanistan | 2% | 3% | x | 2% | 3% | x |
| Middle East unrest | 2% | x | 3% | x | x | 3% |
| China | x | 6% | x | x | x | x |
| Education system | x | 5% | x | x | x | x |
| John Edwards scandal | x | x | 2% | 5% | x | x |
| Health care debate | x | x | 2% | x | x | x |
| Iran | x | x | x | x | 2% | x |
| Scott Walker recall | x | x | x | x | 1% | x |
| Tea Party movement | x | x | x | x | x | 3% |
| Gas/oil prices | x | x | x | x | x | 2% |
| Cyberspace issues | x | x | x | x | x | 2% |
| Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism | ||||||
