PEJ News Coverage Index: Dec. 7 - 13, 2009, Economy and Health Lead but Climate Change Gains Attention

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PEJ News Coverage Index: Dec. 7 - 13, 2009, Economy and Health Lead but Climate Change Gains Attention

In a week when retail sales rose, banks began paying off their government loans, and a compromise appeared to be struck in the Senate over the controversial public option, the economy and health care competed for the top of the news agenda.

At the same, as international talks were about to begin in Copenhagen and doubters of climate change pounded on what some call “Climate-gate,” the subject of global warming received its most attention in the media since PEJ began monitoring the news in 2007.

For the week of Dec. 7 to 13, the economy filled 16% of the space studied of print and  online news, and airtime on radio, cable and TV, according the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. In its weekly News Coverage Index, PEJ found that health care followed close behind, filling 14% of “newshole” studied.

Global warming was the No. 3 story of the week, filling 10% of the NCI newshole. And just a week after the President's speech to the nation about his plans there, Afghanistan fell to 5%, down dramatically from 27% a week earlier.

Read the full report Economy and Health Lead but Climate Change Gains Attention on the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism Web site.

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