It was ever so slight a change, but for the first time in quite awhile, it took a 2% share of available news time and space for a story to make the Project for Excellence in Journalism overall top ten list. The election still dominated the list during the week of 2/25/08-3/2/08, but it’s share was down to 38%, from 44% the week before, making just enough room to allow the broader scope featured during the week. The economy reclaimed its #2 ranking in the absence of any major one-time tragedy/disaster stories. PEJ breaks ongoing Iraq coverage into three general story types: Events in Iraq, the Iraq debate and Iraq homefront.
Throughout most of 2007, the combined totals of these three categories could be counted on to dominate, lead or have a strong presence on the list. This week continued a trend where they are barely visible.
Despite the fact that foreign events accounted for five headings, only one involved Iraq, and it claimed a mere 3% share. And instead of violence, it was the violins of the New York Philharmonic managed to bestow a 2% share on North Korea.
| Story | Overall | Newspr | Online | NetTV | CATV | Radio |
| 2008 campaign | 38% | 22% | 26% | 37% | 59% | 44% |
| US economy | 7% | 11% | 7% | 9% | 2% | 5% |
| Afghanistan | 3% | x | 7% | 5% | 4% | x |
| Iraq events | 3% | x | 11% | x | 2% | 2% |
| Oscars | 3% | x | 8% | 2% | x | 5% |
| Buckley passes | 3% | 6% | x | x | x | 6% |
| North Korea | 2% | 2% | 6% | 3% | 1% | x |
| Pakistan | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% | x | 2% |
| FL power outage | 2% | x | x | 1% | 4% | x |
| Russia | 2% | 3% | x | 3% | x | 1% |
| Pew religion study | x | 4% | x | x | x | x |
| Gas/oil prices | x | 3% | x | x | x | x |
| Cuba | x | 3% | x | 2% | x | x |
| Israel/Palestine | x | 3% | x | x | x | x |
| Global warming | x | x | 3% | x | x | x |
| Microsoft 1.3B EU fine | x | x | 3% | x | x | x |
| Airline passenger dies | x | x | 2% | 1% | x | x |
| Bobby Cutts trial | x | x | x | x | 5% | x |
| Toxin in Vegas hotel | x | x | x | x | 5% | x |
| Immigration | x | x | x | x | 2% | x |
| Chicago mall explosion | x | x | x | x | 1% | x |
| Energy debate | x | x | x | x | x | 4% |
| Health care debate | x | x | x | x | x | 3% |
| Baseball steroids | x | x | x | x | x | 1% |
Source: Project for Excellence in Journalism
