Poll: Bin Laden got too much coverage

WASHINGTON, May 12 (UPI) -- Most people believe the May 2 killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. Navy SEALs received too much news coverage, a poll indicates.

An analysis of data by Pew Research's Project for Excellence in Journalism found that 43 percent of the respondents said the story received too much coverage and 42 percent thought the coverage was appropriate.

Forty-two percent said they followed news of bin Laden's killing more closely than any other news last week.

The survey said 67 percent of last week's news focused on bin Laden's death.

Just one story has received more coverage since Pew started tracking news coverage in early 2007. In August 2008, the media devoted just under 69 percent of its coverage to the presidential campaign in which Democrats nominated Barack Obama and Republican nominee John McCain named Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate.

The raid on bin Laden was the week's top story but it wasn't the top story of the year, the poll showed. In mid-March, 57 percent of respondents said they followed the Japan earthquake and nuclear disaster more closely than other news.

Other top stories for 2011 include the shooting rampage in Tucson that left six people dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., fighting for her life, and the uprising in Egypt that led to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.

The telephone survey was conducted May 5-8 among 1,003 adults. Its margin of error was not given.