2008 State of News Media: More Anna Nicole than Valerie Plame
The non-profit Project for Excellence in Journalism has released its annual report on the state of the news media (h/t Think Progress). Its highly interesting findings include detailed analysis of the three major 24-hour cable news channels and what they do and do not cover.
In its review of 2007, they find that MSNBC led with the most political coverage, FOX had the most crime and celebrity coverage, and CNN had the most foreign policy coverage. The three networks spent more hours covering Anna Nicole Smith’s death than either the Valerie Plame scandal or the US Attorney scandal.
The study also found that coverage varied greatly on each network depending on the personality and brand of the hosting anchor. And that CNN had the least hours of live broadcasting, relying heavily on taped packages for stories.
if one were to have watched five hours of cable news, one would have seen about:
- 35 minutes about campaigns and elections
- 36 minutes about the debate over U.S. foreign policy
- 26 minutes or more of crime
- 12 minutes of accidents and disasters
- 10 minutes of celebrity and entertainment
On the other hand, one would have seen:
- 1 minute and 25 seconds about the environment
- 1 minute and 22 seconds about education
- 1 minute about science and technology
- 3 minutes and 34 seconds about the economy
- 3 minutes and 46 seconds about health and health care
Project for Excellence in Journalism 2008 State of the News Media Report
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March 25, 2008 at 9:06 pm
This is arguably one of the two or three most important issues facing our society and one of the least recognized or talked about. I don’t know what can be done by any of us except to do what you suggest–get news from a variety of sources and read your blog.
I just re-watched the movie “Network” that was filmed in the 70′s. I was horrified to see that, while it was meant as a satire at the time it was filmed, the issues it raises about corporate ownership are now entrenched facts. Those facts can no longer even lend themselves to satire.
May 1, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I’m impressed! You’ve managed the almost impsobisle.