2009 Weekly News Interest Index

Top Stories of 2009: Economy, Obama and Health Care

More Now Think Health Reform Bill Will Pass

Health Care Debate Remains Top News Story

Public Closely Tracking Health Care Debate

Most Still Say Reform Issues Hard to Understand

News Interest In Afghanistan Surges

Tiger, But Not Salahis, Much Discussed Around Water Cooler

Strong Interest in Health Care, Little Interest in Palin

Surprise, Disagreement Over Mammogram Guidelines

Health Care Reform News Tops Public Interest

Public Option Registers Widely

Fort Hood Shootings Top Interest, Coverage

Unchanged Expectations About Health Care Reform Passage

Swine Flu Interest Outpaces Coverage

Fox News Viewed as Most Ideological Network

Swine Flu Tops Weekly News Interest

Most Say They Lack Background to Follow Afghan News

Growing Number Expects Health Care Bill to Pass

Growing Interest in Swine Flu, Many See Press Overstating its Danger

Fewer than Half Would Get Vaccine

Americans Following Health Care, Economic News

Many Aware of Swine Flu Vaccine Arrival

Media Less Influential in Views on Health Care, Economy Than on Other Issues

Health Care Debate Continues to Top News Interest

No Increase in “Too Much” Obama Despite Media Blitz

Republicans Focus on ACORN Scandal

Health Care Debate Seen as “Rude and Disrespectful”

Debate Continues to Dominate Public Interest

Health Care Proposals Remain Hard to Follow

Most Plan to Watch Obama Health Care Speech

Public Aware of Key Swine Flu Facts

Health Care Debate Still Top Story

Health Care Still the Summer’s Dominant Story

Many Hearing News About Swine Flu Vaccine

Health Care Reform Closely Followed, Much Discussed

News About Economy Seen as Less Dire, More Hopeful

Little Protest over Town Hall Protests

Many Fault Media Coverage of Health Care Debate

Partisan Divide Over Coverage of

Health Care Front-And-Center on Public’s News Agenda

Interest, Coverage Spike

Health Care: Important, Interesting, But Hard to Follow

Americans Remained Focused on Michael Jackson

Public Divided Over Palin Press Coverage

Public Hearing More Negative News About Economy

Michael Jackson's Death Again Most Closely Followed Story

Coverage of Jackson’s Death Seen As Excessive

Blacks Track News of Icon's Death Much More Closely than Whites

Strong Public Interest in Iranian Election Protests

Many Know Iranians Using Internet to Get Message Out

Employment News Seen As Overwhelmingly Bad

Health Care Reform Debate Gets Noticed

Week’s Major News Stories Draw Different Audiences

Coverage of Obama Seen as Largely Fair

First Impressions of Sotomayor Mostly Positive

Press Coverage of Nomination Seen as Fair

Public Tracks Economy, Media Focuses on Terror Debate

Majorities Say Right Amount on Leadership and Policies

Public Stays Focused on the Economy

Widespread Awareness of Dealership Closings

Public Sees News About Economy Less Glum

Swine Flu Interest High But Flagging

Local TV A Top Source For Swine Flu News

Internet Seen as Most Useful

Public Sees Too Much Personal Coverage of Obama

Majorities Say Right Amount on Leadership and Policies

Fox News Stands Out as “Too Critical” of Obama

No One Network Singled Out as Too Easy

Most Now Say News Paints Mixed Economic Picture

Many Follow Somali Pirate Story

Obama’s Trip Closely Followed

More Women Than Men Track Royal Visit

Little Sign of Obama Fatigue

Fewer See Press Coverage of President as Fair

Strong Interest in AIG, Positive Views of Congress’ Response

Echoes of Dubai Ports Deal

Public Sees More of a Mix of Good and Bad Economic News

Stewart-Cramer Registers Less than Rihanna-Chris Brown

Many Would Shrug if Their Local Newspaper Closed

Limbaugh Flap Draws More Coverage Than Interest

States’ Budget Woes Register With Public

Republicans Increasingly Critical of Obama

Many Say Government on Right Track on Economy

Some Harsh Words for Wall Street

Most Feel a Personal Stake in Tracking Economic News

Stimulus Passage Tops News Coverage and Interest

Stimulus News Seen As More Negative Than Positive

Too Much Coverage of Phelps, Octuplets

Policy Issues Overshadow Personal Stories in Obama’s First Weeks

Broad Public Awareness of Coming Digital TV Transition

Inauguration Outdraws Interest in Economy

Public Says Media Fair in Obama Coverage

Plane Crash Draws As Much Interest As Economy

Obama Cabinet Appointees Highly Visible

Unemployment Figures Draw Broad Attention

Mideast Competes with Economy and Obama For Public Interest

Press Viewed as 'Fair' to Bush and Obama