It’s Back: Why ‘Hard News’ Is Drawing Viewers

The Wall Street Journal‘s Rebecca Dana reports today that “a decade-long drift of viewers away from hard news” is currently stalled.

The return of viewers to ‘serious news’ is said to be benefiting programs such as CBS’ 60 Minutes, PBS’ NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, ABC’s Nightline, NBC’s Meet the Press, and MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show.

The reason behind the interest in serious journalism? Dana credits an interest “in all things Obama, as well as a raft of major developments in the economy and the Middle East that demand longer attention spans from viewers.”

Jeff Fager, EP of 60 Minutes, says the trend “shows there’s still a business in real reporting on television.”

Create a social media strategy, launch your campaign, and track the results in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. The online event and workshop will feature speakers including The Onion‘s Baratunde Thurston (left), Facebook’s Morin Oluwole, and bitly’s Tim Devane. Register now.