A new survey from HCD Research allowed US citizens to look back at news coverage of events taking place in 2010, and letting their opinion be known as to which stories were over-reported, which inappropriately buried and which were handled well.
Topping the over the top list was the Tiger Woods scandal. Missing in action was coverage of the passing of Farrah Fawcett, but even on that story, a plurality thought the media got it right.
The media actually deserves some credit on this count. Out of 18 stories HCD asked about, over 50% said coverage was about right on all but two: the Tiger Woods story and the death of Michael Jackson. Over 70% said coverage was appropriate for seven of the stories.
* Tiger Woods Affairs
Too much: 81%
Appropriate: 17%
Not enough: 2%
* Death of Michael Jackson
Too much: 63%
Appropriate: 36%
Not enough: 2%
* Governor Stanford
Too much: 36%
Appropriate: 57%
Not enough: 6%
* Prince William’s Engagement
Too much: 33%
Appropriate: 63%
Not enough: 4%
* NYC Mosque/Community Center
Too much: 27%
Appropriate: 51%
Not enough: 22%
* Death of Gary Coleman
Too much: 24%
Appropriate: 67%
Not enough: 10%
* Gulf Oil Spill
Too much: 17%
Appropriate: 61%
Not enough: 23%
* WikiLeaks
Too much: 15%
Appropriate: 67%
Not enough: 18%
* Trapped Miners in Chile
Too much: 14%
Appropriate: 78%
Not enough: 9%
* U.S Economic Recession
Too much: 14%
Appropriate: 58%
Not enough: 28%
* 2010 World Cup
Too much: 12%
Appropriate: 75%
Not enough: 13%
* September 11th Attack
Too much: 12%
Appropriate: 71%
Not enough: 19%
* Elizabeth Edwards
Too much: 11%
Appropriate: 77%
Not enough: 13%
* Earthquake in Haiti
Too much: 10%
Appropriate: 71%
Not enough: 19%
* Bernie Madoff Coverage
Too much: 7%
Appropriate: 79%
Not enough: 14%
* Iranian Election Demonstrations
Too much: 7%
Appropriate: 61%
Not enough: 33%
* Indian Ocean Tsunami
Too much: 3%
Appropriate: 79%
Not enough: 18%
* Death of Farrah Fawcett
Too much: 5%
Appropriate: 56%
Not enough: 39%
Source: HCD Research
