2008 Weekly News Interest Index

Internet Overtakes Newspapers As News Outlet

Biggest Stories of 2008: Economy Tops Campaign

Blagojevich Arrest Grabs Public Attention

Gender Divide In Caylee Anthony Interest

Public Hearing Positive News About Obama Transition

Economic News Dominates Coverage and Interest

Public Closely Tracking Obama Transition

Michelle Obama Coverage Seen as Positive

Economic Problems, Especially in Detroit, Absorb Public’s Attention

Few Will Miss Following Campaign News

Public's Favorite - and Least Favorite - Campaign Journalists

Election Weekend News Interest Hits 20-Year High

Top Events of Campaign 2008

Internet Now Major Source of Campaign News

Continuing Partisan Divide in Cable TV News Audience

Palin Fatigue Now Rivals Obama Fatigue

SNL Appearance, Wardrobe Flap Register Widely

Most Voters Say News Media Wants Obama to Win

Campaign Seen As Increasingly Negative

McCain Ads Seen as Less Truthful

Many Say Press Has Been Too Tough on Palin

Positive Ratings for Coverage of Financial Crisis

Interest in Economic News Surges

VP Debate Highly Anticipated

McCain’s Image Faltered in Week of Wall Street Woes

Public Looking Forward to Debate

Views of Palin Fluid as Spotlight Remains on GOP Ticket

Public Sees Obama Ads Getting More Negative

McCain’s Image Improves – With Big Assist From Palin

Palin Press Coverage: Fair and Important

After Busy Week, Views of Both Candidates Improve

High Marks for Obama's Speech

Obama’s Background Better Known Than His Issue Positions

Biden Pick a Top Campaign Event

Strong Advance Interest in Democratic Convention

Public Tunes into Georgia Conflict

China Olympics Attract Considerable Public Attention

Scant Attention to War in Georgia

Obama Fatigue – 48% Hearing Too Much About Him

McCain's Ads Seen As Negative, Obama's as Positive

Obama’s Trip a Top Campaign Event for Public

42% Say Campaign Coverage Biased in Favor of Obama

Democrats Highly Critical of New Yorker Cover, Republicans Say It Was Okay

Public Closely Tracking Business News

Candidates’ Policy Positions Still Not Widely Known

Jackson's Comments Top Campaign Event of the Week

Interest In Gas Prices Remains High

McCain Remains Much Less Visible than Obama

For Public, Oil Prices and Economic News Overshadow Campaign

McCain Remains Much Less Visible than Obama

Interest in Floods Increases, Still Lower than for ’93 Deluge

Government's Response to Floods Faulted

Gas Prices Dominate the Public’s Economic News Agenda

Fewer Following Midwest Floods than in 1993

More Hear Negative News About Michelle Obama than Cindy McCain

Coverage of the Candidates' Wives

Most Americans See a Black Nominee as Important for Country

Partisan and Racial Divisions Over Significance of Obama's Win

Many Say Coverage is Biased in Favor of Obama

But Obama Controversies Registered Widely

Greater Coverage of McCain, But Public Still Focused on Obama

Most Expect Gas Prices To Reach $5 a Gallon or More

Foreign Disasters Attract Interest Despite Modest Coverage

Cable News Out of Sync With Public Interest in Campaign

Public Says Press Should Not Declare Obama the Winner

Most Aware of Calls for Clinton to Withdraw

Wright Controversy Top Campaign Event So Far

Most Say Wright’s Comments Were Overcovered

Democratic Campaign Taking a Toll on Both Obama and Clinton

McCain Stays Under the Radar

More Americans View Campaign As Too Negative

Obama’s “Bitter” Comment Registers Widely

Less News is Good News for McCain

49% Say Network News Anchors Are All About the Same

Campaign News Interest Dips

Awareness of U.S. War Fatalities Rebounds

Clinton Controversy Heavily Covered but Obama Maintains Visibility Edge

Many Say Economic Reporting Too Negative

Obama and Wright Controversy Dominate News Cycle

Public Interest in Economic News Reaches 15-Year High

Most Aware of Ferraro’s Comments, Wright Videos

Spitzer Scandal: Heavy Coverage, Moderate Interest

Public Closely Tracking Details of Campaign

38% Have Heard a Lot about

Just 28% Say Media Going Easy on Obama

Candidates' Foreign Policy Views Not Widely Known

NY Times’ McCain Story Draws Public Interest – And Disapproval

Beef Recall and Failing Satellite Attract Attention

Campaign Seen as Less Negative than 2004 Contest

Gore, Edwards Endorsements Would Have Modest Impact

Obama Inspiring But Inexperienced, Clinton Prepared to Lead But “Hard To Like”

Media Themes That Connect with Voters

Public Sees Candidates Focusing on Economy

Many Democrats Say Media Tougher on Clinton than Obama

Campaign and Economy Dominate News Interest

Interest in Iraq at All-Time Low

Housing Crisis More Visible Than Other Economic Problems

Surging Interest in Economic News

Democratic Primaries Register Strongly with Public

News Audiences Much Less Interested in GOP Race

Intense Iowa Coverage Leads Many to Say “Too Much”

Post-Iowa, Democratic Candidates Still Most Visible