2011 Weekly News Interest Index

2011: A Year of Big Stories Both Foreign and Domestic

Public Focuses on Elections, Economy and Penn State

Many Fewer Hearing Mostly Bad Economic News

Half Say News about Retail Sales is Mostly Good

Deficit ‘Super Committee’ Draws Little Attention

Penn State Scandal Again Tops Public's News Interest

Fewer Hearing Mostly Bad News about Economy

Penn State Scandal Tops Public's News Interest

Campaign News Draws More Coverage than Interest

Republicans More Likely to View Cain Coverage as 'Too Tough'

Public Closely Tracking Economic and Political News

Little Interest in Libya, European Debt Crisis

Modest Interest in Gadhafi Death, Iraq Withdrawal

Half See 2012 Campaign as 'Dull,' 'Too Long'

Growing Attention to Wall Street Protests

Cain's Visibility Surges

Wall Street Protests Receive Limited Attention

Public Remains Focused on Economic Conditions

GOP Candidates Hardly Household Names

Interest and Coverage On Par with 2008 Campaign

Economy Again Top Story for Public and News Media

Racial Divide in Interest in Troy Davis Execution

Economic Stories Top Public Interest and Coverage

Many Aware of GOP Debate Fights: Ponzi Schemes and Vaccines

9/11 Commemorations Capture Public Attention

Rick Perry Most Visible Among GOP Contenders

Irene Aftermath Top Story for Public, Media

61% Hearing Mostly Bad News About Economy

Hurricane Irene Top Story for Public

Libya: Heavy Coverage, Little Interest

Troubled Economy Top Story for Public and Media

Growing Interest in 2012 Campaign News

Deadly Afghanistan Crash Tops Public’s News Interest

Most Angered by Economic News

Number Hearing Mostly Bad Economic News Soars

Attention to Debt Debate Grew Steadily in July

20% of Tea Party Republicans Contacted Lawmakers

Debt Stalemate Top Story, But No Surge in Public Interest

Many Say Illegal Tactics by U.K. Media Likely Also Used Here

Debt Limit Fight Tops News Interest, Coverage

Public Sees Debt Debate as Important, Hard to Understand

Casey Anthony Verdict Top Story for Public and Social Networkers

No Improvement in Views of Economic News

Interest in Campaign News On Par With 2007

No Partisan Gap in Attention to Campaign's Early Stage

Economy, Afghanistan Top News Interest, Coverage

Economy, Weiner Top Public’s News Interests

Romney Most Visible GOP Candidate

Public Focused on Economy, Media on Weiner Scandal

Most See Too Much Coverage of Weiner, Palin

Number Hearing “Mostly Bad” Economic News Highest Since March 2009

Most Visible Possible GOP Candidates: Romney, Palin

Midwest Tornadoes Top Story for Public and Press

Public Stays with bin Laden Story; Media Focus Shifts

Most Aware of Schwarzenegger Admission

Interest in bin Laden Now Tops News Coverage

Economic News Still Viewed as a Mix of Good and Bad

Death of bin Laden: More Coverage than Interest

Many Say Osama Story Overcovered

Too Much Coverage: Birth Certificate, Royal Wedding

Modest Interest in Run-Up to Royal Wedding

But Many Older Women Plan to Watch

Trump Most Visible Among Possible GOP Contenders

Most View News about Deficit as Unchanging

Public Follows Both Japan, Shutdown Fight Closely

Media shifts to Washington Budget Battle

Public Sees Better News about Jobs, But Not Prices

Japan Disaster Still Dominates Public's News Interest

Public Stays Focused on Japan as Media Turns to Libya

2011: The Year of Foreign News

Most Are Attentive to News About Disaster in Japan

Public Focuses on Crisis at Nuclear Plants

Strong Public Interest in Japan Disaster

As Gas Prices Spike, More See Economic News as Bad

Most Also Hearing Bad News About Food Prices

Rising Oil Prices Big News for American Public

Many Tracking Union Fight in Wisconsin, Violence in Libya

Global Trouble Spots Top Public’s News Interests

Strong Focus on Asia, Less Interest in Europe

Public Still Focused on Egypt as Coverage Fades

Many Keep Watch on State, Federal Budget Debates

Interest in Egypt News Surges as Mubarak Departs

2012 Campaign Off to a Slow Start

Public Now More Focused on Egypt, but Coverage Far Surpasses Interest

Most Hearing Bad News about Gas Prices

Limited Public Interest in Egyptian Protests

Turmoil Draws Extensive Media Coverage

Tucson Rampage Still Top Story for Public

Hu Jintao's Visit Draws Far More Coverage than Interest

Most Intend to Watch Obama’s State of the Union

Speech Not Seen as More Important than Past Addresses

Arizona Rampage Dominates Public’s News Interest

Bipartisan Praise for Obama Memorial Speech

Economic News Seen as Less Negative

High Early Interest in Giffords Shooting

Press Coverage and Public Interest: Matches and Mismatches