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.

 

Peter Fray

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