Oil Leak Interest Versus Coverage Percent who followed very closely 59
Public attention to the major oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico has yet to drop off as significantly as media coverage. Currently, 39% say they followed news about the leak very closely last week, not much different from the 42% that said this one week earlier. Still, that is down sharply from 59% in the July 22-25 survey. More than four-in-ten (44%) say this was the story they followed most closely last week.
The oil leak accounted for 3% of the coverage measured by PEJ, down from 11% one week earlier. With the underground well largely sealed, coverage has declined greatly since a peak of 44% of the newshole in mid-June.
Oil Leak Interest Versus Coverage  | 75  | Percent who followed very closely 59  | 59  | 58  | 55  | 50  | 39  | 25  | 17  | 16  | Percentof coverage 15  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Jul  | 12-15 Aug  | 17-20  | 8-11 22-25  | 12-15 Aug  | 23-26  | 13-16  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 