I really love Pew Research. As pollsters go, they're painfully slow in putting out stuff, and not particularly prolific, either. However, when they do come out with something, it's usually something very interesting.
The latest research from them is part of an ongoing series about media coverage and public interest, conducted during the period of September 20-26. The findings: the media are positively gaga-eyed over the midterm elections - at 25%, the most covered story during the survey period - but the public don't seem to care; only 6% of those surveyed reported following them most closely. the Crackerjack prize in here is public interest in the GOP's "Pledge To America:"
Just 18% say they have heard a lot about the legislative blueprint unveiled by House GOP leaders, called "A Pledge to America." Close to four-in-ten (38%) say they heard a little about this, while 42% say they heard nothing at all.
For 42% of Americans, at least, ignorance is bliss. Not surprising, the number one story followed most closely by the public (but not the media): THE ECONOMY.
Guess what came in at #2?
After the economy, the story most closely followed by the people, but poorly covered by the media: Health Care. It seems the public are aware that certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act went into effect last month. Too bad the MSM didn't see fit to cover them very well.
While news about the economy topped the News Interest Index (23% most closely), nearly as many (18%) say they tracked news about portions of the federal health care law taking effect more closely than other major news. Almost four-in-ten (37%) say they followed this news very closely. Reporting about the new law made up 3% of the newshole as measured by PEJ.
Finishing third is Afghanistan:
More than one-in-ten (13%) say they followed news about the situation in Afghanistan most closely, while 29% say they followed news about the situation there very closely. News about Afghanistan made up 3% of coverage.
The rest of the story speaks pretty well for itself. Pew doesn't say as much, but the article illustrates a serious disconnect between what the public want to know and what the MSM want to tell them.