Indexes: Our Weekly Content Analysis

This section contains the complete archive of all PEJ Indexes. They are published below in chronological order, but our archive is also searchable. Use the key word search on the left to find reports about specific news events.

  • PEJ New Media Index, August 23-27, 2010: The Mosque Debate Continues to Galvanize the Blogosphere

    The debate over the mosque near Ground Zero in New York was a hotly contested issue for bloggers for the third week in a row as the focus turned to the motives of those opposing the construction. On Twitter, a new phone app feature from Google created a mostly positive buzz. And on YouTube, offbeat videos from a Brazilian election and dramatic footage from a hostage situation in the Philippines each received millions of views.
  • PEJ News Coverage Index, August 23-29, 2010: Elections, Katrina and Economy Split the News Agenda

    With the spate of primary races testing the power of the Tea Party movement, the mid-term elections topped the news, but a Katrina anniversary and the faltering economy were close behind. Meanwhile, the New York mosque controversy quieted but didn’t vanish last week.
  • PEJ New Media Index, August 16-20, 2010: Islamic Issues Ignite the Blogosphere

    The argument over the Park 51 Islamic center continued in the blogosphere last week, but this time, mosque supporters dominated. Bloggers also reacted to a poll that more Americans believe Barack Obama is a Muslim. On Twitter, an article declaring "The Web is dead" was No. 1. And on YouTube, an obscene gesture drove a popular video.

  • PEJ News Coverage Index, August 16-22, 2010: Mosque Controversy, Iraq War Dominate the News

    A presidential mention, and intense interest from talk show hosts, pushed a proposed Islamic center in New York City to the top of the news agenda last week. Meanwhile, a milestone in the drawdown of troops in Iraq attracted more media coverage than the war has received in more than a year.

  • PEJ New Media Index, August 9-13, 2010: Net Neutrality and the Mosque Furor Lead the Blogosphere

    Bloggers were sharply critical of Google last week, accusing the internet giant of shifting its position on a key online policy. Meanwhile, a column arguing against a mosque near the site of Ground Zero drew plaudits. On Twitter, a baseball mishap made the roster of top stories while the No. 1 YouTube video had Boy Scouts booing Barack Obama.
  • PEJ News Coverage Index, August 9-15, 2010: The 2010 Midterms Rise; the Gulf Spill Sinks

    With the fall balloting closer on the horizon, the crucial midterm elections topped the headlines last week—with a troublesome economy close behind. The death of a well-known politician and debates over immigration policy also finished among the top five stories as did the oil spill saga—though it is quickly losing steam.
  • PEJ New Media Index, August 2-6, 2010: A Ruling on Same-sex Marriage Galvanizes Bloggers

    A judge’s decision to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage became a reason to celebrate for many bloggers last week. Others rallied behind the website WikiLeaks, following its release of secret information about the war in Afghanistan. On Twitter, the decision by 40 wealthy Americans to donate money to charity drew the most attention. And on YouTube, an Alabama crime stopper became a web sensation.
  • PEJ News Coverage Index, August 2-8, 2010: A Tough Economy and a Plugged Leak Top the News

    Two familiar stories—an economy slow to recover and an oil leak slow to be stopped—generated the most press attention last week. But there was plenty of politics as well including two hot button issues—same-sex marriage and illegal immigration—and the mid-term elections. And after one week of big headlines, Afghanistan coverage plunged.
  • PEJ New Media Index, July, 26-30, 2010: Facebook Privacy and iPhone “Jailbreaking” Engage Social Media Users

    The publication of information gleaned from Facebook profiles of millions of users was the top subject on Twitter last week. And a ruling that it’s okay to hack into the iPhone for new applications gained attention on both blogs and Twitter. On YouTube, slang-speaking teens have provoked millions of clicks for two weeks running.
  • PEJ News Coverage Index, July 26-August 1, 2010: Afghanistan Tops the News

    Coverage of the conflict in Afghanistan got a big boost last week after the WikiLeaks organization unearthed classified reports casting doubts on the prospects for U.S. success there. But in a balanced news week, a key ruling in the Arizona immigration battle, the departure of an embattled BP CEO and a sluggish economy shared the media’s attention.