Just to prove that perception is reality, the constant media refrain this week that “now we have a game on our hands” was reflected in the amount of coverage the two party leaders received, with the PM leading in press and internet and the Opposition Leader number one in the broadcast media.
It will be interesting to see if Turnbull can stay close to Rudd in volume of coverage, as Rudd himself did as Opposition Leader which Nelson only managed on his way out the door.
Plenty of movement on the list this week, with Anthony Albanese receiving lots of coverage on infrastructure and as class warrior number one, while Stephen Smith beavers away to make sure our Kevin can protect the world on the Security Council. Oh and “where’s the beef” Murphy sneaks into the Top 20 for the first (and last?) time.
On the Opposition side, new super shadow ministry man Robb got a big lift to his usually subterranean profile, Barnaby Joyce deeply enjoyed unrequiting Malcolm’s love and the new Shadow Treasurer learns the joy of number retention.
TW |
Move |
Position |
Politician |
Press Index |
Radio Index |
TV Index |
Internet Index |
Raw total |
INDEX |
1 |
2 |
PM |
Kevin Rudd |
1,000 |
886 |
851 |
1,000 |
25,805 |
934 |
2 |
2 |
Opp Leader |
Malcolm Turnbull |
898 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
776 |
25,193 |
918 |
3 |
-2 |
Backbench |
Brendan Nelson |
470 |
149 |
149 |
672 |
10,468 |
360 |
4 |
2 |
Cabinet |
Wayne Swan |
293 |
293 |
320 |
399 |
9,575 |
326 |
5 |
0 |
Premier |
Nathan Rees |
224 |
251 |
160 |
619 |
10,660 |
313 |
6 |
10 |
Shadow |
Julie Bishop |
203 |
301 |
265 |
224 |
7,262 |
248 |
7 |
-5 |
Backbench |
Peter Costello |
248 |
81 |
112 |
450 |
6,814 |
223 |
8 |
5 |
Backbench |
Morris Iemma |
123 |
91 |
38 |
495 |
6,861 |
187 |
9 |
0 |
Cabinet |
Julia Gillard |
158 |
130 |
103 |
193 |
4,243 |
146 |
10 |
18 |
Cabinet |
Anthony Albanese |
61 |
35 |
77 |
203 |
3,145 |
94 |
11 |
18 |
Cabinet |
Stephen Smith |
61 |
112 |
44 |
146 |
3,086 |
91 |
12 |
0 |
Shadow |
Tony Abbott |
90 |
57 |
26 |
180 |
2,859 |
88 |
13 |
-3 |
WA Opp Ld |
Colin Barnett |
22 |
97 |
27 |
180 |
3,182 |
81 |
14 |
13 |
Backbench |
Barnaby Joyce |
54 |
106 |
79 |
84 |
2,509 |
81 |
15 |
4 |
Minor Party |
Steve Fielding |
57 |
85 |
44 |
134 |
2,680 |
80 |
16 |
23 |
Shadow |
Andrew Robb |
82 |
69 |
25 |
131 |
2,405 |
77 |
17 |
4 |
Party leader |
Bob Brown |
38 |
56 |
52 |
156 |
2,655 |
75 |
18 |
-1 |
Independent |
Nick Xenophon |
54 |
50 |
37 |
147 |
2,429 |
72 |
19 |
-4 |
Premier |
Anna Bligh |
121 |
17 |
12 |
100 |
1,499 |
62 |
20 |
* |
Parl Sec |
John Murphy |
45 |
57 |
121 |
16 |
1,474 |
59 |
Neck and neck on talkback as well as the relative riches, both financial and intellectual, of our political leaders was discussed at length.
Rank |
Politician |
Talkback |
1 |
Kevin Rudd |
660 |
2 |
Malcolm Turnbull |
653 |
3 |
Brendan Nelson |
113 |
4 |
Wayne Swan |
106 |
5 |
Nathan Rees |
85 |
Oh and they give a little achievement award to one of the players too, do they? That’s nice … keep them from getting too bored.
Press |
Radio |
TV |
Internet |
Total |
INDEX |
|
Rebecca Twigley |
40 |
29 |
53 |
34 |
1,198 |
44 |
There’s more on the Media Monitors website.
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Peter Fray
Editor-in-chief of Crikey
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