Talk Show Index: A Content Analysis of Opinion Programming
This section contains the complete archive of all the PEJ Talk Show 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.
| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: May 3, 2007 | The biggest news stories were also the most discussed topics on America’s cable and radio talk shows last week. But the talk hosts often bring their own angles to the main story lines—and that can often involve finding a scapegoat or villain. Plus Imus, Rosie and Alec Baldwin all get play, mostly on the cable airwaves.
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| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: April 26, 2007 | It’s probably no surprise that the college campus massacre proved to be the biggest talk show topic of the year. But while there were plenty of subplots to talk about, radio and cable hosts managed to seize on some of “hot button” issues to emerge from the worst shooting spree in the nation’s history. |
| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: April 19, 2007 | | To say Don Imus’s controversial words were a big topic on the talk shows last week is an understatement. The Imus story ruled the talk airwaves like no other since the Index began, taking up 61% of the talk time. But often Imus was less the subject of the talk than a way to take on other people and issues. |
| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: April 12, 2007 | | The Iranian hostage situation and the argument over Iraq policy were hot topics on the cable and radio talk shows last week. But in some ways, the U.S. Speaker of the House’s decision to talk to the President of Syria shed even more light on how the talk universe really works. |
| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: April 5, 2007 | | There was a disagreement between the nation’s radio and cable talk hosts over the juiciest talk topic last week. The fired U.S. attorneys topped the cable menu while the 2008 Presidential race was the leading topic on radio. Meanwhile, hosts in both media sectors rattled their sabers at Iran. |
| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: March 29, 2007 | Two major news stories, the fired U.S. attorneys story and the argument over Iraq policy, dominated the airwaves on cable and radio talk shows last week. But a look at how the talkhosts operate suggests that it can be passion and personality, rather than the issue itself that often drives the discussion.
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| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: March 22, 2007 | | Two Washington-centric topics that left plenty of room for disagreement and debate dominated the cable and radio talk shows last week. But a PEJ examination of the talk landscape reveals that in some cases, the hosts’ own values and preferences determine what news is fit to argue about. |
| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: March 15, 2007 | The Scooter Libby verdict triggered a noisy debate on talk shows last week, even as the radio talkers were quiet about the problems at Walter Reed. But the real surprise may be in how some conservative hosts are treating the 2008 Democratic presidential frontrunners. |
| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: March 1, 2007 | The endless parade of Anna Nicole Smith legal proceedings was still a source of fascination for the cable talk hosts last week. But their radio counterparts opted for another favored subject—and it was open season on the 2008 campaign season.
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| | Source: PEJ Research; Date Posted: February 22, 2007 | Even in a week with North Korea, Iran, Anna Nicole, and Hillary on the front burner, it’s U.S. strategy in the Iraq war that commands the talk airwaves. And the dominance of that debate reveals something about the nature of the talk show culture. |
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