News Interest % following each story closely
Nearly a quarter (23%) of the public says they followed news about projections of a record high federal budget deficit this year very closely; 5% say this was the story they followed most closely. The media devoted 4% of coverage to the deficit projections.
Fewer (13%) say they very closely followed news about recent gains in the stock market; 4% say this was the news they followed most closely. News about the stock market accounted for less than 1% of the coverage analyzed by PEJ.
Meanwhile, 14% say they very closely followed news about a suicide bombing in Russia that killed at least 35 people; 3% say this was the news they followed most closely. The story accounted for 2% of coverage.
News Interest  | % following each story closely  | Which one story did you follow most closely?  | Ariz, shootings  | 38  | State of the Union  | 28  | 12  | Egypt/Mideast protests  | 17  | 11  | 23  | Budget deficit  | Stock market gains  | 13  | Bombing in Russia  | 14  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER January 27-30, 2011. 