Categories: OLD Media Moves

Economy now top media story

The U.S. economy supplanted the midterm elections atop the mainstream news agenda last week for the first time in two months, according to a report from the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism.

Mark Jurkowitz from the project writes, “From November 8-14, the economy accounted for 15% of the newshole according to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. About half that coverage focused on the draft proposal from the National Commission for Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which — in calling for some tax increases and spending cuts — generated criticism from the left and the right.

“The No. 2 story, at 12%, was the continuing fallout from the Nov. 2 congressional elections — which produced major Republican gains — with the narrative reinforcing a moment interpreted as a stinging rebuke for the president.

“Obama’s trip to the G-20 summit and Asia registered as the third-biggest story last week, filling 9% of the newshole. Much of that coverage highlighted the president’s inability to secure a trade deal with South Korea and an apparent failure to ease economic tensions with China.”