News Interest Index: Economy, Volcanic Ash Top News Interest

Report Read time:
News Interest Index: Economy, Volcanic Ash Top News Interest

The public and the media focused on economic issues last week, with 24% of Americans saying they followed news about the economy more closely than other major stories.

Another 9% say they followed news about proposals for stricter regulation of banks and financial institutions most closely.

Americans also continued to closely track news about travel disruptions in Europe caused by ash from the erupting volcano in Iceland (20% most closely), according to the latest weekly News Interest Index survey conducted April 23-26 among 1,008 adults by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

In terms of coverage, news about the economy in general made up 13% of the newshole last week, while debate in Washington about a financial regulatory overhaul made up 14%. Together, they accounted for 27% of the coverage examined by the Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ), a separate project of the Pew Research Center. News about the volcano made up 11% of coverage.

Read the full report Economy, Volcanic Ash Top News Interest on the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press' Web site.

MORE FROM PEW

Under a blue sea, old plastics and fishing gear float while fish swim around the debris. Fellowship Supports Ocean Plastic Research
3 Key Principles for Building Disaster-Ready State Budgets
A person with dark hair in blue scrubs stands at a computer monitor working on a light-colored keyboard. Nonprofit Sector Is Vital Piece of Philadelphia's Economy
An aerial view of two utility workers in safety gear—including helmets, gloves, and harnesses—standing atop ladders to work on a sensor attached to a high-voltage transmission tower surrounded by greenery. Utah and Indiana Move to Modernize Power Grids