PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS MARCH 2-5, 2007 NEWS INTEREST INDEX OMNIBUS SURVEY FINAL TOPLINE N=1015

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1 PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS MARCH 2-5, 2007 NEWS INTEREST INDEX OMNIBUS SURVEY FINAL TOPLINE N=1015 N.1 Thinking about the news, what journalist or news person do you most admire? [OPEN END. ACCEPT UP TO THREE RESPONSES BUT DO NOT PROBE FOR MORE THAN ONE] August Total* Katie Couric 11 Dan Rather 4 Bill O Reilly 6 Walter Cronkite 3 Charles Gibson 6 Peter Jennings 2 Dan Rather 4 Tom Brokaw 2 Tom Brokaw 3 Barbara Walters 2 Brian Williams 2 Ted Koppel 2 Anderson Cooper 33 Other 2 Jon Stewart 35 None/Don't Know/ 1 Jim Lehrer Bob Woodruff 1 Peter Jennings 1 Walter Cronkite 1 Matt Lauer 1 Rush Limbaugh 1 Barbara Walters 1 Brit Hume 1 Diane Sawyer 1 Wolf Blitzer 1 Ted Koppel 1 Keith Olbermann 1 Lou Dobbs 1 Tim Russert 24 Other 44 None/Don t know/ *Figures for 2007 total more than 100% because respondents could name more than one journalist. Q.1 As I read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past week, tell me if you happened to follow each news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all closely. First, [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE ITEMS] [IF NECESSARY Did you follow [ITEM] very closely, fairly closely, not too closely or not at all closely? ] a. News about the current situation in Iraq =100 Feb 23-26, *=100 Feb 16-19, =100 Feb 9-12, *=100 Feb 2-5, *=100 Jan 26-29, *=100 Jan 19-22, =100 Jan 12-15, =100 January, =100 Jan 5-8, =100 1 In August, 1985 the question was worded: Who is your favorite journalist or newsperson? 1

2 December, *=100 Nov 30-Dec 3, *=100 Mid-November, *=100 September, =100 August, =100 June, =100 May, =100 April, =100 March, =100 February, =100 January, =100 December, =100 Early November, *=100 Early October, *=100 Early September, =100 July, =100 June, =100 Mid-May, *=100 Mid-March, =100 February, *=100 January, *=100 December, =100 Mid-October, =100 Early September, =100 August, =100 July, *=100 June, =100 April, *=100 Mid-March, =100 Early February, =100 Mid-January, *=100 December, =100 November, =100 September, =100 Mid-August, =100 Early July, =100 June, *=100 May, *=100 April 11-16, =100 April 2-7, =100 March 20-24, =100 March 13-16, =100 February, =100 January, =100 December, =100 Late October, =100 Early October, =100 Early September, = From March 20 to April 16, 2003, the story was listed as News about the war in Iraq. From October, 2002, to March 13-16, 2003, the story was listed as Debate over the possibility that the U.S. will take military action in Iraq. In Early September, 2002, the story was listed as Debate over the possibility that the U.S. will invade Iraq. 2

3 b. The recent drop in the U.S. stock market *=100 Early September, =100 Late July, =100 March, =100 Mid-October, =100 April, *=100 Early April, *=100 March, =100 March, *=100 January, =100 Early September, *=100 Mid-August, *=100 January, *=100 Early November, *=100 Mid-November, =100 September, =100 April, *=100 February, =100 c. The death of Anna Nicole Smith =100 Feb 23-26, =100 Feb , =100 Feb 9-12, =100 d. News about candidates for the 2008 presidential election =100 Feb 23-26, *=100 Feb 16-19, =100 Feb 9-12, =100 Feb 2-5, *=100 Jan 26-29, *=100 Jan 19-22, = Presidential Election 8 November, 2004 (RVs) *=100 Mid-October, =100 Early September, =100 August, *=100 July, =100 June, =100 April, =100 Mid-March, *=100 Late February, =100 Early February, =100 Mid-January, =100 Early January, = From Early September, 2002 to January, 1998 and in Mid-November 1997, April 1997, and February 2006, the story was listed as Recent major ups and downs in the U.S. stock market. In Early November, 1997, the story was listed as Thinking about last Monday when the stock market dropped, how closely did you follow what was happening? January 19-22, 2007, asked about: Recent announcements by prominent Democrats about plans to run for president in In previous election years, the question wording of stories varies because of factors such as timing within the election cycle (primaries or general election) and the nature of the race (incumbent candidate or open field of candidates). 3

4 December, =100 November, =100 October, =100 September, =100 Mid-August, =100 May, =100 January, = Presidential Election Early November, 2000 (RVs) *=100 Mid-October, 2000 (RVs) =100 Early October, 2000 (RVs) =100 September, *=100 July, =100 June, =100 May, *=100 April, =100 March, =100 February, *=100 January, =100 December, =100 October, =100 September, =100 July, =100 June, = Presidential Election November, 1996 (RVs) *=100 October, *=100 Early September, *=100 July, =100 April, *=100 March, *=100 January, =100 September, *=100 August, *=100 June, = Presidential Election October, 1992 (RVs) =100 September, 1992 (RVs) *=100 August, 1992 (RVs) =100 July, *=100 May, *=100 March, *=100 January, =100 December, *=100 October, = Presidential Election October, 1988 (RVs) *=100 August, 1988 (RVs) *=100 May, =100 November, =100 September, =100 4

5 e. A bombing in Afghanistan near where Vice President Dick Cheney was staying =100 TREND FOR COMPARISON: Late July, =100 June, =100 April, =100 Early April, =100 February, =100 January, =100 December, =100 Mid-November, =100 Early November, =100 Mid-October, =100 f. Tornadoes and violent storms in the South and Midwest *=100 Feb 16-19, =100 Feb 9-12, *=100 Jan 19-22, =100 Jan 5-8, *=100 January, =100 January, *=100 Early December, =100 January, *=100 Q.2 Which ONE of the stories I just mentioned have you followed most closely, or is there another story you ve been following MORE closely? (DO NOT READ LIST. ACCEPT ONLY ONE RESPONSE.) 30 News about the current situation in Iraq 20 Tornadoes and violent storms in the South and Midwest 13 The death of Anna Nicole Smith 9 The recent drop in the U.S. stock market 9 News about candidates for the 2008 presidential election 3 A bombing in Afghanistan near where Vice President Dick Cheney was staying 8 Some other story (SPECIFY) 8 Don t know/ From Mid-October, 2001 to Late July, 2002 the story was listed as the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan. For February 16-19, 2007, the story was lists as Cold winter weather and snowstorms in the Northeast and Midwest. For February 9-12, 2007, the story was listed as Cold winter weather. For January 19-22, 2007, the story was listed as Snow and ice storms in some parts of the country. For January 5-8, 2007, the story was listed as Winter snowstorms in the western U.S. In January 2001 the story was listed as Cold winter weather and storms in the Northeast and Midwest. In January 1999 the story was listed as Cold winter weather and storms in the Midwest. In December, 1998 the story was listed as Unseasonable weather patterns. In January 1994 the story was listed as News about cold weather conditions in the Northeast and Midwest. 5

6 Q.3 In general, do you think news reports are making the situation in Iraq seem WORSE than it really is or BETTER than it really is, or are reports showing the situation about the way it really is? Mid- April Dec Sept Oct Worse Better About the way it really is Don t Know/ Q.4 On another subject, how did you first learn about the stock market's recent downturn? Was it from talking with others; listening to the radio; watching television; reading a newspaper; or going online over the Internet? [ACCEPT ONLY ONE RESPONSE] Following // Following March Nov March Nov Total Talking with others Listening to the radio Watching television Reading a newspaper Going online * Other (VOL. SPECIFY) * Didn t hear about it (VOL) 1 n/a * n/a 1 Don t know/ * * (N=1015) (N=782) (N=242) IF TELEVISION IN Q.4, ASK: Q.5 Was this on an all-news cable channel such as CNN or CNBC; on network broadcast television such as ABC, NBC, or CBS; or on a local television news broadcast in your area? Following // Following March Nov March Nov Total All news cable channel Network television news Local television news * Don t know/ * 2 * 3 42% 42% 59% 40% 66% 6