Coverage of Obama Seen as Largely Fair WEEK S MAJOR NEWS STORIES DRAW DIFFERENT AUDIENCES

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1 NEWS Release L Street, N.W., Suite 700 Washington, D.C Tel (202) Fax (202) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 11, 2009 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Andrew Kohut, Director Michael Remez, Senior Writer Coverage of Obama Seen as Largely Fair WEEK S MAJOR NEWS STORIES DRAW DIFFERENT AUDIENCES Americans divided their attention among several major stories last week as President Obama reached out to the Muslim world in a major speech, a jetliner crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and General Motors filed for bankruptcy protection. At the same time, they continued to keep a close watch on news about the troubles facing the U.S. economy. Not surprisingly, different segments of the public showed greater interest in certain stories. For example, older Americans, the better educated, women and Democrats were more likely than others to say they followed Obama s speech in Cairo more than any other major story last week. The General Motors developments attracted more interest among men, especially those 50 and older, and Republicans, while the horrific news about the jet crash off the coast of Brazil was followed more by women under 50 and the more affluent. News Interest vs. News Coverage Economy Air France crash Obama's Egypt speech GM bankruptcy Kansas doctor killing Meanwhile, the latest weekly News Interest Index survey, Interest: percent who named story as most followed conducted June 5-8 by the Pew Coverage: percent of news coverage devoted to story Research Center for the People & the Press, shows that interest in news about the U.S. economy remained strong across most groups. About two-in ten (22%) say they followed economic news more than other major stories

2 A comparable share (21%) say they followed news about the deadly plane crash most, while 17% say the same about Obama s speech to the Muslim world on June 4. A slightly smaller share (13%) say they followed news about the GM bankruptcy filing more than other major stories, while 7% say they followed news about the NBA final series most, and 5% say they followed news about the killing of a Kansas doctor who performed abortions that. According to a separate analysis by the Pew Research Center s Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ), Obama s outreach to the Muslim world attracted the most media coverage last week. Reporting on the president s trip to the Middle East and Europe accounted for about 20% of the media newshole. The Cairo speech and reaction to it represented most of that 17% of the total newshole. The problems facing the car industry, most notably the GM bankruptcy, accounted for 12% of news coverage, while the economy took up 11% and the Air France crash another 10%. News about the killing of Dr. George Tiller, a Kansas doctor who performed abortions, accounted for 8% of the newshole. As Obama made news on both the foreign and domestic fronts, Americans say they see no change in the balance of media coverage of the president since April. More than half (53%) say they think media coverage of Obama has been fair, while 16% say it has been too critical and 26% say it has not been critical enough. Four-in-ten (40%) of those who say they watch Fox News Channel regularly say that media coverage of Obama has not been critical enough. That compares with just 15% of regular CNN viewers and 12% of regular MSNBC viewers. Breaking Down News Interest There are substantial partisan differences in attentiveness to major stories, particularly Obama s speech to the Muslim world. Nearly three times more Democrats (25%) than Republicans (9%) cited Obama s address as the week s top story. More Republicans than Democrats say the economy was the story they followed most (28% vs. 18% of Democrats and 22% for independents). In addition, 2 Big Stories, Divergent Audiences Story followed most Obama GM Air France speech bankruptcy crash % % % Total Men Women Republican Democrat Independent College grad Some College HS grad or less

3 twice as many Republicans (18%) as Democrats (9%) say they followed stories about GM s bankruptcy more than all other stories. Measuring News Interest Percent following each story "very " Economy 41 Which one story did you follow "most "? 22 Obama's Egypt speech Air France crash GM bankruptcy Kansas doctor killing NBA Finals Somewhat more women (20%) than men (13%) cited Obama s speech as their most followed story; more men (17%) than women (10%) tracked news about GM most. During a busy news week, the crash of the Air France jet drew fairly extensive interest. Women are slightly more likely to say they followed that story most (23% compared with 19% for men). That includes 26% of women under 50. Fewer than one-in-ten (7%) say they followed the NBA championship series, now underway, more than other news last week, while 13% say they followed the finals very. That s slightly less than the 18% that said they very followed the Boston Celtics winning the series last year. Not surprisingly, men are more likely than women to say they are following the series very (17% vs. 9%). Just 5% say they followed the murder of George Tiller the Kansas doctor who ran a health clinic that provided abortions more than other major stories, while 16% say they followed that news very. Democrats are slightly more likely than Republicans or independents to say they followed this news very (22% vs. 15% or 13%, respectively.) 3

4 Most See Obama Coverage As Fair As Barack Obama completed his trip to Europe and the Middle East, 53% of Americans say that the press has been fair in its coverage of the new president. About a quarter (26%) say the press has not been critical enough, while 16% say it has been too critical. In late April, 55% said press coverage was fair, 26% said it was not critical enough and 15% said it was too critical. Most Call Obama s Press Coverage Fair June 5-8 Has press coverage of Total Rep Dem Ind Barack Obama been % % % % Too critical Not critical enough Fair Don t know Total Rep Dem Ind April % % % % Too critical Not critical enough Fair Don t know Currently, seven-in-ten (69%) Democrats say the press has been fair, as do a majority of independents (52%). By contrast, about a third (34%) of Republicans say coverage of Obama has been fair, while a majority (57%) say that coverage has not been critical enough. The opinions of Fox News viewers stand in stark contrast with regular viewers of MSNBC. Four-in-ten of those who regulary watch Fox say coverage of the president has not been critical enough, roughly the same as the share (42%) that says coverage has been fair. By contrast, two-thirds of MSNBC viewers say that Obama coverage has been fair, while 20% say it has been too critical. Just 12% say it has not been critical enough. Those who regularly watch CNN hold views similar to those of the MSNBC audience, though a slightly smaller share (58%) sees coverage as fair. Opinions about press coverage of Obama among regular newspaper readers and those who regularly get news online fall somewhere between those of regular cable news consumers. Majorities of those who regularly get news from either newspapers (57%) or the internet (52%) say that Obama s coverage has been fair. Roughly three-inten regular newspaper readers and online news consumers say that the press has not been critical enough in covering Obama (27% and 28%, respectively). Slightly more of regular internet news conusmers (17%) than regular newspaper readers (13%) find the coverage to be too critical of Obama. How Different News Audiences View Obama s Coverage Coverage of Obama has been Not critical Too Gets news enough critical Fair regularly from % % % Fox News Channel Radio Internet Newspapers Local TV Network news CNN cable news MSNBC news

5 Many Aware of Limbaugh Comments About Sotomayor More than a quarter of Americans (27%) say they heard a lot and 33% say they heard a little last week about radio commentator Rush Limbaugh calling Obama s Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, a racist. Regular viewers of the cable news channels were more likely to have heard about Limbaugh s comments. About four-in-ten (41%) regular MSNBC viewers, 37% regular CNN viewers and 33% regular Fox viewers say they had heard a lot about this story. Equal proportions of Republicans and What the Public s Hearing About A A Nothing lot little at all DK How much have you heard about % % % % Rush Limbaugh calling Sotomayor a racist * Barack Obama attending D-Day commemoration * Obamas trip to New York for dinner, show * Muslims reactions to Obama s speech in Egypt * Conan O Brien s premiere as host of Tonight Show NBC News specials about life inside White House * Michelle Obama and children traveling to Paris Democrats say they heard a lot about Limbaugh s criticisms of Sotomayor (30% of Republicans, 31% of Democrats). Fewer than one-in-four (23%) say they heard a lot about Obama taking part in ceremonies in France commemorating D-Day, the start of the critical World War II battle. Another 42% say they heard a little about this. Not surprisingly, a greater share of Americans 65 and older (34%) say they heard a lot Obama commemorating D-Day than those younger than 40 (12%). Among those 40 to 64, 28% say they had heard a lot about Obama s appearance. The same percentage say they heard a lot about Barack and Michelle Obama s night out in New York City (23%). Among the major cable news channels, comparable shares of regular viewers say they heard a lot about the date night (29% for Fox viewers, 32% for MSNBC viewers and 29% for CNN viewers.) Obama s speech in Cairo was among the most followed stories of the week, but only two-in-ten (21%) say they heard a lot about Muslim reaction to the address. Another 41% said they had heard a little about feedback in the Muslim world,while 37% say they heard nothing at all about this. Overall, 21% say they heard a lot about Conan O Brien s start as host of The Tonight show last week. A larger share of those younger than 40 heard at least something (64% heard a lot or a little) about O Brien s premiere than those 65 and older. Among that group, 52% had heard nothing at all about this. 5

6 Only 15% of the public say they heard a lot about NBC News prime time specials about life inside the Obama White House. More than half (55%) say they heard nothing at all about this. Not surprisingly, regular MSNBC viewers were more likely to have heard a lot about these special reports than the regular Fox News audience (26% vs. 16%, respectively). A trip by Michelle Obama and her two daughters to Paris was not a widely recognized story. Just one-in-ten (9%) say they heard a lot about the Obamas visiting Paris last weekend. A majority (55%) heard nothing at all about their trip. These findings are based on the most recent installment of the weekly News Interest Index, an ongoing project of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The index, building on the Center s longstanding research into public attentiveness to major news stories, examines news interest as it relates to the news media s coverage. The weekly survey is conducted in conjunction with The Project for Excellence in Journalism s News Coverage Index, which monitors the news reported by major newspaper, television, radio and online news outlets on an ongoing basis. In the most recent week, data relating to news coverage were collected from June 1-7, 2009 and survey data measuring public interest in the top news stories of the week were collected June 5-8, 2009 from a nationally representative sample of 1,005 adults. 6

7 About the News Interest Index The News Interest Index is a weekly survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press aimed at gauging the public s interest in and reaction to major news events. This project has been undertaken in conjunction with the Project for Excellence in Journalism s News Coverage Index, an ongoing content analysis of the news. The News Coverage Index catalogues the news from top news organizations across five major sectors of the media: newspapers, network television, cable television, radio and the internet. Each week (from Monday through Sunday) PEJ compiles this data to identify the top stories for the week. The News Interest Index survey collects data from Friday through Monday to gauge public interest in the most covered stories of the week. Results for the weekly surveys are based on telephone interviews among a nationwide sample of approximately 1,000 adults, 18 years of age or older, conducted under the direction of ORC (Opinion Research Corporation). For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls, and that results based on subgroups will have larger margins of error. For more information about the Project for Excellence in Journalism s News Coverage Index, go to About the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues. We are sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts and are one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan "fact tank" that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. The Center's purpose is to serve as a forum for ideas on the media and public policy through public opinion research. In this role it serves as an important information resource for political leaders, journalists, scholars, and public interest organizations. All of our current survey results are made available free of charge. All of the Center s research and reports are collaborative products based on the input and analysis of the entire Center staff consisting of: Andrew Kohut, Director Scott Keeter, Director of Survey Research Carroll Doherty and Michael Dimock, Associate Directors Michael Remez, Senior Writer Juliana Menasce Horowitz, Robert Suls, Shawn Neidorf, Leah Christian and Jocelyn Kiley Research Associates Kathleen Holzwart and Alec Tyson, Research Analysts 7

8 PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS JUNE 5-8, 2009 NEWS INTEREST INDEX OMNIBUS SURVEY TOPLINE N=1005 NO QUESTION 1 Q.2 As I read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past week, please tell me if you happened to follow each news story very, fairly, not too, or not at all. First, [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE] [IF NECESSARY Did you follow [ITEM] very, fairly, not too or not at all? ] Very Fairly Not too Not at all DK/ Refused a. Barack Obama s speech addressed to the Muslim world in Egypt * b. The murder of a Kansas doctor who performed late term abortions * c. General Motors declaring bankruptcy * May 29-June 1, 2009: Reports that GM may go into bankruptcy * TREND FOR COMPARISON: 1 May 1-4, 2009: Financial problems in the U.S. auto industry April 24-27, * April 3-6, * February 20-23, 2009: U.S. automakers seeking billions in federal loans to avoid bankruptcy * December 19-22, 2008: Bush administration plan for emergency loans to U.S. automakers December 12-15, 2008: Debate over a government bailout for U.S. auto industry * December 5-8, 2008: Debate in Congress over a bailout for U.S. auto industry * November 21-24, November 14-17, 2008: Problems facing U.S. automakers * October 31-November 3, 2008: Possible merger of GM and Chrysler May 18-21, 2007: DaimlerChrysler sells Chrysler September 28-October 1, 2007: Agreement between GM and UAW ending strike * 1 For May 29-June 1, 2009 the item was listed as: Reports that General Motors may go into bankruptcy. February 20-23, 2009 asked about: U.S. automakers seeking billions of dollars in federal loans to avoid bankruptcy. December 19-22, 2008 asked about The Bush administration s plan to provide billions in emergency loans to U.S. automakers. December 12-15, 2008 asked about The debate over a government bailout for the U.S. auto industry. November 21-24, 2008 and December 5-8, 2008 asked about The debate in Congress over a government bailout for the U.S. auto industry. November 14-17, 2008 asked about: News about problems facing U.S. automakers. October 31-November 3, 2008 asked about: The possible merger of automakers General Motors and Chrysler. May 18-21, 2007 asked about: DaimlerChrysler s decision to sell Chrysler to a private equity firm. January, 1992 and December, 2005 asked about: The major job cuts announced by General Motors. June, 1998 asked about: The merger of the Chrysler Corporation and Daimler Benz. September 28-October 1, 2007 asked about An agreement between General Motors and the United Auto Workers union that ended a two-day strike over wages and job security. 8

9 Q.2 CONTINUED Very Fairly Not too Not at all DK/ Refused December, 2005: General Motors job cuts June, 1998: Chrysler/Daimler Benz merger January, 1992: General Motors job cuts * d. An Air France flight that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean TREND FOR COMPARISON: May 15-18, 2009: The investigation into a February plane crash in Buffalo, New York * Feb , 2009: A plane crashing into a house near Buffalo, New York, killing 50 people * Jan , 2009: Plane landing in Hudson * November, 2001: Crash of an American Airlines plane near JFK Airport in New York February, 2000: Crash of an Alaskan Airlines jet near Los Angeles * December 1999: Crash of EgyptAir plane off the coast of New England and its investigation June, 1999: Crash of an American Airlines flight in Arkansas March, 1999: The derailment of an Amtrak train in Illinois July 1996: Crash of a Paris-bound TWA plane off the coast of New York * February 1996: Recent train crashes in Maryland, Colorado and New Jersey September, 1993: Amtrak train wreck in Alabama February, 1990: Crash of Columbian airliner near JFK airport in New York e. Reports about the condition of the U.S. economy * May 29-June 1, * May 21-24, * May 15-18, * May 8-11, * May 1-4, April 17-20, April 9-13, March 27-30, * March 20-23, * March 13-16, * February 27-March 2, * February 13-16, * January 30-February 2, * January 23-26, January 16-19, * January 2-4, * December 12-15, * December 5-8, * November 21-24, * November 14-17, * November 7-10, * 9

10 Q.2 CONTINUED Very Fairly Not too Not at all DK/ Refused October 31-November 3, * October 24-27, October 17-20, * October 10-13, * October 3-6, * September 26-29, * September 19-22, * September 5-8, * August 29-31, August 15-18, * August 8-11, * August 1-4, July 25-28, * July 18-21, * July 11-14, June 27-30, June 13-16, * May 9-12, * May 2-5, April 18-21, April 4-7, * March 28-31, * March 20-24, * February 29-March 3, February 15-18, February 1-4, January 18-21, * January 11-14, November 2-5, October 19-22, * August 10-13, * Mid-November, December, Early November, * Mid-May, January, * Mid-October, Early September, Mid-January, * December, November, October, September, March, February, * January, December, February, January, December, Mid-November, June, May,

11 Q.2 CONTINUED Very Fairly Not too Not at all DK/ Refused April, February, January, June, * March, * February, December, * October, June, * May, January, Early January, * December, October, * September, Early September, * August, * May, February, * January, * September, May, March, * February, * January, * October, f. The NBA Finals * TREND FOR COMPARISON: June 20-23, 2008: The Boston Celtics winning the NBA Finals Q.3 Which ONE of the stories I just mentioned have you followed most, or is there another story you ve been following MORE? [DO NOT READ LIST. ACCEPT ONLY ONE RESPONSE.] 22 Reports about the condition of the U.S. economy 21 An Air France plane crashing into the Atlantic Ocean 17 Barack Obama s speech addressed to the Muslim world in Egypt 13 General Motors declaring bankruptcy 7 The NBA Finals 5 The murder of a Kansas doctor who performed late term abortions 7 Some other story 9 Don t know/refused 11

12 On another topic Q.4 Do you think the press has been too critical, not critical enough or fair in the way it has covered Barack Obama? Apr Mar 27-30, Jan 23-26, Jan 2-4, Too critical Not critical enough Fair Don t know/refused (VOL.) Q.5 How much if anything, have you heard about each of the following? Have you heard a lot, a little or nothing at all? [READ AND RANDOMIZE] Nothing DK/ A lot A little at all Refused a. Conan O Brien s premiere as host of The Tonight Show NO ITEM B c. Rush Limbaugh calling Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor a racist * d. Barack and Michelle Obama going to New York for dinner and a Broadway show * e. NBC News s prime time specials about life inside the Obama White House * f. Reactions in the Muslim world to Barack Obama s speech in Egypt * g. Barack Obama attending a D-Day commemoration in France * h. Michelle Obama and the kids traveling to Paris Q.6 Now I'd like to ask you about where you get most of your news these days. For each item that I read, please tell me if it is something you do regularly, or not. [READ AND RANDOMIZE] Yes, No, not DK/ regularly regularly Refused a. Watch the local TV news * b. Watch the Fox New cable channel c. Watch MSNBC cable news d. Watch CNN cable news For Jan , 2009, question wording was: Do you think the press has been too critical, not critical enough or fair in the way it has covered Barack Obama during his first few days in office? For Jan. 2-4, 2009, question was asked about George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Question wording was: Do you think the press has been too critical, not critical enough or fair in the way it has covered [INSERT ITEM; ROTATE]? 12

13 Q.6 CONTINUED Yes, regularly No, not regularly DK/ Refused e. Watch the national nightly network news on CBS, ABC and NBC * f. Read the newspaper * g. Listen to radio news h. Get news from the internet * 13