Olympics May Be Over, But Phelps and Bolt Continue to Attract the Spotlight

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Beijing’s Olympic Closing Ceremony is over, the Olympic torch has been extinguished and the countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games in London has begun. But some of the biggest names from the Beijing Games continue to generate media coverage. After eight gold medals and seven world records in eight events, it’s no surprise that U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps continued as the most-mentioned athlete among those being tracked by Dow Jones Insight in social media sources (blogs and boards). Of 7,907 total mentions in social media sources between August 26 and September 8, Phelps had 4,620, or 58% of the top 10 athletes tracked. Much of this coverage concerned Phelps’ appearances after the Games – including his stint as a presenter at the MTV Video Music Awards – and confirms his arrival as a full-fledged celebrity.

In a distant second to Phelps in social media sources was triple gold medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who had 1,183 mentions, for 15%. U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson, who won a silver medal in the women’s all-around competition, followed Bolt with 501 mentions, for 6%. Her teammate Nastia Liukin, who won the all-around gold medal, and beach volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor each had 5% of mentions. U.S. swimmer Dara Torres, who made history when she made the team at the age of 41, had 231 mentions, for 3%. Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm and British cyclist Chris Hoy each had 2% of mentions. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, whose withdrawal due to injury led to a national outpouring of disappointment, rounded out the top 10 with 109 mentions, for 1%.

Phelps and Bolt swapped positions in traditional media sources (print and online). Of 11,277 total mentions in traditional media sources, Bolt had 3,863, for 34%. Phelps was a close second with 3,496 mentions, for 31%. Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell was third, with 829 mentions, for 7%. Hoy had 690 mentions, for 6%. Liukin, May and British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who won two gold medals, each had 4% of mentions. Torres, Johnson and American sprinter Tyson Gay, who failed to qualify for the finals of the men’s 100 meters, rounded out the top 10 with 3% of mentions each.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Visa Lead Post-Games Coverage of Olympic Sponsors

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Although the Beijing Olympic Games had 12 global sponsors, three sponsors led coverage in traditional and social media sources in analyses before, during and, now, after the Games. Those three – Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Visa – combined to garner 65% of coverage in both traditional and social media during the period of August 26 to September 8.

Coca-Cola had 158 of the 565 total mentions in social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight, for 28%. McDonald’s was second with 135 mentions, for 24%, and Visa was third with 73 mentions, for 13%. Of the 768 total mentions in traditional media sources, Coca-Cola had 209 mentions, for 27%, Visa had 158 mentions, for 21%, and McDonald’s had 129 mentions, for 17%. In the weeks leading up to the Games, a significant amount of coverage of these three sponsors was negative, focusing on their implied complicity in China’s poor human rights record. Once the Games started, however, coverage of these companies softened somewhat, focusing instead on their presence in Beijing, their commemorative merchandise and their feel-good ads.

In social media sources, GE was fourth with 53 mentions, for 9%. Samsung had 44 mentions, for 8%. Lenovo, the only Chinese company among the global sponsors, and Panasonic each had 5% of mentions. Omega and Johnson & Johnson each had 3% and Kodak had 2%. French IT company Atos Origin and Canadian financial services company Manulife failed to make the top 10.

In traditional media sources, General Electric had 66 mentions, for 9%. Samsung had 60 mentions, for 8%, and Lenovo had 54 mentions, for 7%. Omega and Johnson & Johnson each had 4% of mentions. Atos Origin and Kodak rounded out the top 10, each with 2% of mentions. Panasonic and Manulife did not crack the top 10 in traditional media sources.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

After Games Wind Down, So Does Coverage of Issues

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

In the weeks leading up to the Beijing Olympic Games, the excitement of the Games was tempered by news coverage of a number of issues that cast the host city, and China, in a negative light. The traditional relay of the Olympic torch drew protests from people who objected to China’s less-than-stellar human rights record and its relationship with Tibet. There were questions about Beijing’s air quality and its possible effects on the athletes’ health and performance. Coverage of environmental issues peaked with the government’s efforts to clean up the air in Beijing and the enormous algae bloom at the sailing venue. There were also concerns about the government’s efforts to hinder the media in its access to information and its ability to freely report on the events. And, like other recent Games, the Beijing Games were taking place under the specter of performance-enhancing drug use.

Since the Closing Ceremonies, however, coverage of these issues has declined significantly. During the period of August 26 to September 7, there were a total of 3,800 mentions in social and traditional media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight of issues relating to human rights, the environment, Tibet, media freedom, athlete health and doping. The most-mentioned issue, human rights, declined from 255 mentions on August 26 to 51 mentions on September 5 (data were analyzed to September 5, since September 6-7 was a weekend, when all coverage tends to be lower). Mentions of China’s relationship with Tibet decreased from 147 to 20 during that period. Mentions of media freedom went from 131 on August 26 to 67 on September 5.

Mentions of the environment declined from 121 on August 26, but spiked back up to 92 on September 1. This increase in coverage was driven by stories about Beijing’s improved air quality. The government’s attempts to improve Beijing’s air quality, including restricting driving based on an odd-even license plate schedule, were so successful that the city’s air quality was the best it had been in about 10 years. These improvements were so successful that some Beijing residents are calling for the driving restrictions to be extended in an effort to keep the air clean. Following coverage of these stories, mentions of the environment declined again to 28 on September 5.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Phelps Lives Up to Hype, Topping Overall Coverage of Olympic Athletes

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

It’s not often that an athlete lives up to the hype preceding his performance, and few Olympic athletes have been accompanied by as much hype as U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. But not only did Phelps live up to the expectations of eight gold medals in the Beijing Games, he exceeded them. He won his eight medals, and did so in almost every way possible: individually; as part of relay teams; by unbelievably wide margins; and by, literally, the length of a fingernail. So it’s no surprise that Phelps was the most-mentioned athlete among those being tracked by Dow Jones Insight in both traditional (print and online) and social (blogs and boards) media sources.

Of the 55,051 total mentions in traditional media sources between August 11 and August 25, Phelps had 19,626, or 36% of the selected top athletes tracked. His percentage of social media mentions was even larger. Of the 46,285 total mentions of top athletes during the same time period, Phelps had 28,787, or 62%. In second behind Phelps in both traditional and social media sources was Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals. Bolt had 13,349 mentions, or 24%, in traditional media and 5,441 mentions, for a more modest 12%, in social media.

French swimmer Alain Bernard was third in traditional media sources, with 3,552 mentions, or 7%. Bernard was a participant in one of the most exciting and memorable finishes in the swimming competition when he was overtaken by the U.S.’s Jason Lezak on the anchor leg of the men’s 4 x 100 freestyle relay. Bernard was followed by U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin, who won the women’s all-around gold medal, with 3,202 mentions, for 6%. British cyclist Chris Hoy, who won three gold medals in track cycling, had 2,664 mentions, or 5%. Liukin’s teammate Shawn Johnson had 2,658 mentions, or 5%. British swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who won two gold medals, had 2,572 mentions, or 5%.

U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay, who was expected to challenge for the gold in the men’s 100 meters, had 2,508 mentions, or 5%. Gay was still bothered by an injury he suffered in the U.S. Olympic Trials, and failed to make the final of the race. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, who also had a disappointing Olympics when he was forced to withdraw from his event due to injury, had 2,498 mentions, or 5%.

U.S. beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, who along with her partner Kerri Walsh, won a second consecutive gold medal, rounded out the top 10 athletes with 2,422 mentions, or 4%.

In social media sources, Johnson was third behind Phelps and Bolt, with 3,108 mentions, or 7%. Liukin followed with 2,464 mentions, or 5%. May-Treanor and U.S. swimmer Dara Torres, who won two silver medals at the age of 41, each had 3% of the total mentions. Basketball player Yao Ming, who is a superstar in his native China as well as in the U.S., had 957 mentions, or 2%. Liu Xiang, Bernard and Gay rounded out the top 10 with 2% of mentions each.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Coca-Cola, Visa Earn Coverage of Their Television Commercials

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The Beijing Olympic Games have drawn to a close, and coverage of the Games’ 12 global sponsors is closing just as it began, with McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Visa leading the way. Between August 11 and August 25, McDonald’s had 673 of the top 10 companies’ 3,566 mentions, or 19%, in traditional media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight. Visa and Coca-Cola were close behind, with 18% of mentions each. Coverage of McDonald’s was centered on the company’s physical presence in Beijing, while Visa and Coca-Cola garnered coverage due to their ads. Mentions of Visa focused on the company’s “Go World” ad campaign and its sponsorship of Michael Phelps.

General Electric followed with 455 mentions, for 13%. Much of the coverage of GE focused on the ratings for NBC’s coverage of the Games. Coverage of Omega nearly doubled compared to the previous two-week period analyzed by Dow Jones Insight, from 5% to 9% for the period of August 11-25. Omega got a boost in coverage due to its position as the “official timekeeper” of the games. The company was surprisingly thrust into the spotlight after Phelps’ last-second, by-a-fraction-of-a-fingertip victory over Serbian Milorad Cavic in the 100-meter butterfly. To spectators, the finish seemed to be a dead heat, but Omega’s timing system had Phelps in first with a time of 50.58 seconds and Cavic in second with a time of 50.59 seconds. The finish was backed up by digital photos captured by Omega’s overhead cameras.

Samsung and Lenovo, the latter being the only Chinese company among the global sponsors, had 7% of mentions each. Johnson & Johnson had 181 mentions, or 5%. Kodak and Panasonic each had 2% of mentions. French IT company, Atos Origin, and Canadian financial services company, Manulife, failed to make the top 10.

In social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones, Coca-Cola took the top spot, with 735 of 2,974 total mentions, for 25%. McDonald’s was close behind with 656 mentions, for 22%. Visa followed in third, with 491 mentions, for 17%. Coverage of the top three companies on blogs and message boards seemed to focus on their television ads, with Coca-Cola getting positive reviews for its commercial featuring a montage of gold medal ceremonies for Olympians and Special Olympians. While much of the negative attention garnered by Coca-Cola and McDonald’s has diminished as the Games have wound down, there were still some mentions critical of the companies for their connections to China and its questionable human rights and environmental policies.

GE was fourth with 265 mentions, for 9%. Lenovo had 8% of mentions and Samsung and Omega had 7% each. Johnson & Johnson, Kodak and Panasonic each had 2% of mentions. Atos Origin and Manulife again failed to crack the top 10.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

British Athletes Conclude Their Most Successful Olympic Games

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The Beijing Olympic Games offered athletes from the United Kingdom the opportunity to compete on the sports world’s biggest stage and also the chance to build excitement at home for the upcoming London Games in 2012. The athletes responded to both challenges. The 2008 Games were the most successful for the British team, who brought home 19 gold, 13 silver and 15 bronze medals for a total of 47 medals.

Among the top U.K. athletes being tracked by Dow Jones Insight, track cyclist Chris Hoy garnered the most coverage in traditional and social media sources within the U.K. during the period of August 11 to August 25. Hoy, who won three gold medals, received 1,525 of the 5,542 total mentions in U.K. sources, for 28%. Swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who won gold medals in the women’s 400- and 800-meter freestyle races, had 1,272 mentions, for 23%. Christine Ohuruogu won a gold medal in the women’s 400 meters, and had 605 mentions, for 11%. Sailor Ben Ainslie, who won a gold medal in the Finn Class, also had 11% of mentions.

Cyclist Victoria Pendleton, who won a gold medal in the women’s sprint race, had 506 mentions, for 9%, and marathoner Paula Radcliffe had 441 mentions, for 8%. Mixed-doubles badminton partners Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson had 4% and 3% of mentions, respectively. Runner Craig Pickering had 3% of mentions, and middle-distance runner Jo Pavey rounded out the top 10 with 69 mentions, for 1%.

In English sources based outside of the U.K., swimmer Adlington topped Hoy, leading the coverage across all media with 1,716 of 5,963 total mentions, for 29%. Hoy, whose sport doesn’t have the popular global appeal that swimming does, fell to second among Britons with 1,563 mentions, for 26%. Runner Ohuruogu again came in third in the media race outside her home country with 756 mentions, for 13%. Pendleton and Radcliffe followed with 11% and 10% of mentions, respectively. Ainslie had 457 mentions, for 8%. Emms, Pickering and Robertson each had 1% of mentions. Triathlete Helen Tucker was the tenth of the top 10 athletes, with 22 mentions.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Phelps Dominates Coverage in Traditional and Social Media Sources

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Following the spectacular Opening Ceremonies, the Beijing Olympic Games are officially under way and it’s time for the athletes to take center stage. And leading the way, as he has in much of the pre-Olympic coverage, is U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. With two gold medals – and one world record – down, and six more to go, Phelps was the most-mentioned athlete among those being tracked by Dow Jones Insight in both traditional (print and online) and social (blogs and boards) media sources. Of 11,131 total mentions in traditional media sources between July 28 and August 10, Phelps had 2,904, or 26% of those athletes tracked. His percentage of social media mentions was even larger. Of the 2,149 total mentions of athletes during the same time period, Phelps had 796, or 37%. In second, behind Phelps in both traditional and social media sources, was Chinese superstar Yao Ming. Yao had 1,764 mentions, or 16%, in traditional media and 372 mentions, or 17%, in social media.

Australian swimmer Grant Hackett was third in traditional media mentions, with 1,182, or 11% of those tracked. U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm and U.S. swimmer Dara Torres followed Hackett, each with 8% of mentions in traditional media. American Tyson Gay and Jamaican Asafa Powell, who are expected to battle each other and world-record holder Usain Bolt for the gold in the men’s 100 meters, followed with 806 and 741 mentions, respectively. Rounding out the top 10 athletes were Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, with 677 mentions, or 6%, Australian swimmer Libby Lenton, with 631 mentions, or 6%, and British marathoner Paula Radcliffe, with 581 mentions, or 5%.

In social media sources, Hamm was third behind Phelps and Yao, with 239 mentions, or 11%. Torres was fourth, with 215 mentions for 10%. Gay, Liu Xiang and U.S. women’s gymnast Shawn Johnson each had 5% of the total mentions. Rounding out the top 10 were Radcliffe, Powell and U.S. women’s gymnast Nastia Liukin, each with 3% of the total mentions.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

McDonald’s and Coca-Cola Continue to Lead Coverage of Games’ Global Sponsors

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Now that the Beijing Olympics have begun, the 12 global sponsors of the Games hope to see the returns on their significant advertising investments. McDonald’s has moved into the lead among the global sponsors in coverage in traditional media sources. Between July 28 and August 10, McDonald’s had 426 mentions, or 20% of the top 10 companies’ 2,121 mentions, in traditional media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight. Coca-Cola was close behind, with 352 mentions, or 17%. A number of mentions for both McDonald’s and Coca-Cola focused not on the companies’ Olympic ads, but rather on the ubiquity of the products themselves in Beijing.

Lenovo, the only Chinese company among the global sponsors, was third with 302 mentions, for 14%. Visa was fourth, with 277 mentions, for 13%. General Electric and Samsung each garnered 10% of the total mentions, and Omega, the official timekeeper of the Games, had 115 mentions, for 5%. Johnson & Johnson and Panasonic each had 4%. French IT company Atos Origin rounded out the top 10 with 50 mentions, or 2%. The remaining two sponsors, Manulife and Kodak, failed to make the top 10.

In social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones, Coca-Cola had 316 of 1,165 total mentions, for 27%, and a sizeable lead over second-place McDonald’s, which had 222 mentions, or 19%. Coverage of these two companies on blogs and message boards included numerous generally enthusiastic mentions of their Olympic tie-in products, including commemorative soda cans and special menu items. However, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s also attracted negative attention in the social media, with a number of mentions critical of the companies for their connections to China and its questionable human rights and environmental policies.

Visa followed in third, with 163 mentions, or 14%. Visa’s coverage was split between comments about its TV commercials and about Team Visa, a sponsorship program for promising European athletes. General Electric had 127 mentions, or 11%, many of which referred to NBC’s coverage of the Games. Lenovo had 107 mentions for 9%, and Samsung had 99 mentions for 8%. Panasonic and Omega each had 3% of the total mentions, and Kodak and Johnson & Johnson each had 2%. Manulife and Atos Origin didn’t make the top 10.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

No Difference Seen Between U.S. and non-U.S. Coverage of Political Issues

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The choice of Beijing as the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games raised some eyebrows when it was announced seven years ago. At the time there was some doubt that a city in insular China would be able to pull off a global event of this nature. But in recent months, talk in Western media turned not to whether the Games would succeed, but whether the city deserved the honor of hosting in light of such issues as China’s human rights record, its relationship with Tibet and its environmental problems. In recent weeks topics receiving coverage included Beijing’s polluted water and air, protests along the Torch Relay, questions about travel visas, and athletes’ political stances being quieted.

Analysis by Dow Jones Insight shows that in the period between July 28 and August 10 the breakdown of the discussion of these topics was nearly identical in the U.S. and in English-language media around the world. Among the seven politically charged issues being tracked by Dow Jones Insight, human rights issues led coverage in U.S. sources, with 3,144 mentions, or 36%, of 8,650 total mentions. The environment was a distant second, with 1,611 mentions, or 19%. The numbers were very similar in non-U.S. sources during the same period. Of the 15,155 total mentions, human rights issues garnered 5,812, or 38%, and environmental issues accounted for 2,510 mentions, or 17%.

Tibet was third in U.S. sources, with 1,091 mentions, for 13%, followed by media freedom, with 1,040 mentions for 12%. In non-U.S. sources, media freedom was the third-most-covered topic, with 2,288 mentions, for 15%, and Tibet was fourth, with 2,243 mentions, for 15%. The topic of athletes’ health was fifth in both U.S. and non-U.S sources, with 10% and 8% of mentions, respectively. Doping garnered 9% of mentions in U.S. sources and 6% of mentions in non-U.S. sources. Athlete freedom of speech had 190 mentions, or 2%, in U.S. sources and 230 mentions, or 2%, in non-U.S. sources.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Sprinters Powell and Gay Lead Press Coverage of Olympic Athletes

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

For the first time since Dow Jones Insight began analyzing media coverage heading into the Beijing Olympic Games, Michael Phelps is not the most talked-about athlete, at least in traditional media sources (print and online). During the period of July 15 to July 28, Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell garnered the most coverage, with 645, or 17%, of the total 3,807 mentions of athletes being tracked. Following closely behind among the top 10 athletes was U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay, with 491 mentions, or 13%. Powell and Gay, along with Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, are expected to fight it out for the gold medal in the glamour event of the track and field competition – the 100 meters.

In third was Australian swimmer Grant Hackett with 444 mentions for 12%, followed by Phelps with 432 mentions for 11%. U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm was next with 365 mentions for 10%. Hamm made headlines a few months ago when he was named to the U.S. team despite breaking his wrist at the Olympic trials. He was back in the news this week when he announced he was withdrawing from the team because of concerns that his injury would not be fully healed by the start of the Games.

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang and U.S. swimmer Dara Torres each had 9% of the total mentions. Australian hurdler Jana Rawlinson had 254 mentions, or 7%, mainly covering her failure to make the 2008 Australian team. Rounding out the top 10 were U.S. track athletes Jeremy Wariner, with 7%, and Allyson Felix, with 6%.

However, when it comes to social media, Phelps is still the fan favorite, dominating coverage in message boards and blogs. The swimming superstar had 186 of 663 total mentions of the athletes tracked, for 28%, which was nearly double the mentions for Torres, who had the second-highest total. Torres had 99 mentions, for 15%. Rivals Gay and Powell followed with 81 and 63 mentions, respectively. Hamm and Liu Xiang each had 8% of mentions. U.S. women’s gymnast Shawn Johnson had 38 mentions for 6% and Felix had 37 mentions for 6%. British marathoner Paula Radcliffe had 28 mentions for 4% and Wariner had 27 mentions for 4%.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Coverage of Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Visa Focuses on Feel-Good Olympic Ads

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

With a little more than a week to go before the Opening Ceremonies, Coca-Cola maintains its lead in coverage among the 12 global sponsors of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in both traditional and social media sources. Between July 15 and July 28, Coke had 186 mentions, or 22%, of the total 832 mentions in traditional media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight. McDonald’s was close behind, with 167 mentions, or 20%, followed by Visa with 143 mentions for 17%. Much of the coverage of these three companies focused on their new ad campaigns, which are just being unveiled in anticipation of the Opening Ceremonies. All three have introduced ads centered on the themes of global unity, working together and achieving dreams.

General Electric had 88 mentions for 11%, Samsung had 74 mentions for 9% and Lenovo, the only Chinese company among the global sponsors, had 56 mentions for 7%. Panasonic had 5% of mentions, followed by Omega with 4%, and Johnson & Johnson and Kodak with 3% each. The remaining two sponsors, Atos Origin and Manulife, each had less than 3% of mentions.

Coca-Cola also came out on top among the global sponsors in social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones, with 188, or 34%, of 553 total mentions. McDonald’s had 117 mentions, or 21%, and Visa followed with 68 mentions, or 12%. Like press coverage, bloggers and those posting to message boards were mentioning the top three companies’ feel-good ads. A handful of mentions were critical of the companies for their implied support of China despite criticism of the country’s human rights and environmental policies. But the majority of comments seemed more neutral in tone, mentioning the companies’ sponsorships in passing or tie-ins such as McDonald’s Olympic “Beijing Burger” and other theme menu items.

Samsung and General Electric each had 11% of mentions in the analyzed social media. Omega had 18 mentions, or 3%, and Lenovo had 16 mentions for 3%. Rounding out the top 10, Panasonic had 12 mentions, or 2%, Johnson & Johnson had eight mentions, or 1%, and Kodak had six mentions, or 1%. Atos Origin and Manulife each finished with less than 1% of coverage.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Coverage of Athlete Doping Increases as Opening Ceremonies Draw Near

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

As the start of the Beijing Olympic Games draws closer, coverage of athlete doping is starting to catch up with the hot-button issue of pollution concerns, according to analysis of traditional and social media sources tracked by Dow Jones Insight.
While there still was more coverage of Beijing’s polluted air and water (2,094 mentions) than doping (1,186 mentions) in the 10 days from July 14 to 23, doping coverage has been increasing in the wake of coverage of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s vows that the Beijing Games would be “the cleanest Games in history.” WADA announced the existence of a new test to detect the presence of erythropoietin (EPO), a banned blood booster, which was previously considered undetectable. According to WADA, the new test detects the presence of a molecule implanted into EPO during the manufacturing process. It was this test that nabbed Italian cyclist Ricardo Ricco during the 2008 Tour de France.

Mentions of doping increased to a high of 177 on July 24 with coverage of U.S. swimmer Jessica Hardy’s positive test for a banned substance. Hardy tested positive for clenbuterol, a stimulant. The next move for Hardy, who denies cheating, is unclear, but she can pursue appeals through the American Arbitration Association and the Court of Arbitration for Sport in order to hold onto her spot on the U.S. team.

This increase in doping coverage was also driven by news that Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou was included on Greece’s official roster for Beijing. Thanou served a two-year ban after missing a mandatory doping test prior to the 2004 Athens Games. Thanou had won a silver medal in the 100 meters in Sydney in 2000.

Coverage of environmental issues seemed to be subsiding during the past week, following a high of 293 mentions on July 21 driven by green algae on the sailing course, soot in the air and Beijing’s last-minute plans to clean it all up. But that changed again early this week with reports that Beijing’s attempts to reduce the soot in the air were not working as hoped and more measures would have to be taken.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Compared with Athens in 2004, Beijing Is Under a Media Microscope for Environmental Issues

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Beijing is not the first Olympic host city subjected to scrutiny of its air quality and pollution. In the months before the start of the 2004 Athens Olympics, that city’s notorious air pollution was the focus of some media coverage. But coverage of Athens was small compared to the attention focused on Beijing’s problems thus far. Coverage of Beijing’s environmental issues has been more than 10 times that of Athens’ in the seven months prior to each event, according to analysis by Dow Jones Insight of more than 2,000 mainstream media sources that were publishing during both time periods.

From January 1 through July 31, 2004, there were 353 documents mentioning environmental issues related to the Athens Games in these same newspapers, magazines and newswires. The number of documents increased steadily over the seven months but from a very small base of seven in January, peaking at 101 in July, the month before the Games.

In comparison, during the first seven months of 2008 (data are through July 28), there were 4,216 documents mentioning environmental issues related to Beijing as host city. Of these, 392 were in January with a general upward trend to a high of 876 documents in July.

The striking difference in coverage may be a reflection of growing worldwide concern over the state of the environment and the effects of global warming. In addition, environmental issues were almost a secondary concern prior to the 2004 Games. More attention was focused on domestic and international terrorism in Greece following the World Trade Center attack in September 2001 and the Madrid train bombings in March 2004. There were also worries that Athens wouldn’t have all of its facilities completed in time for the start of the Games. However none of these fears were realized as the Athens Games have been seen as a success.

Methodology: Analysis includes more than 2,000 English-language mainstream media sources which were publishing during both periods, the first seven months of 2004 and 2008.

Swimmers Phelps and Torres Lead Coverage of Olympic Athletes

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The Beijing Olympic Games begin in a little more than three weeks, and the media spotlight is shining more brightly on the athletes with the potential to become stars of the Games. Swimmer Michael Phelps continued to lead the way among the 10 U.S. athletes being tracked by Dow Jones Insight in the period July 1 to July 14.

On the strength of his performance at the recent U.S. Olympic trials, where he qualified for eight events and set two world records for good measure, Phelps had 2,799 mentions, or 33% of the 8,380 total mentions of the U.S. athletes tracked, in traditional (print and online) and social (blogs and boards) media sources analyzed. Fellow swimmer Dara Torres, who qualified for two events in Beijing, was second with 1,916 mentions, or 23%. Torres, 41, made headlines by being the oldest American swimmer ever to qualify for the Olympics. She won nine medals over four Olympics and came out of retirement two years ago after the birth of her daughter to train for Beijing.

Sprinter Tyson Gay was third in overall coverage, with 1,659 mentions, or 20%. Gay easily made the U.S. team for the 100 meters race but failed to qualify for the 200 meters when he fell in a qualifying heat at the trials. Fellow track stars Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards followed Gay. Wariner had 601 mentions, or 7%, Felix had 593 mentions, or 7%, and Richards had 426 mentions, or 5%. Gymnast Paul Hamm, whose trip to Beijing hinges on his performance at the upcoming U.S. team training camp, had 201 mentions, or 2%. Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, whose places on the women’s gymnastics team are secure, had 131 mentions, or 2%, and 54 mentions, or 1%, respectively.

Among the tracked athletes from outside the U.S. hoping to use success in Beijing as a springboard to increased exposure, it was ironically Australian Jana Rawlinson who led coverage during the past fortnight, with 455 of the 1,907 total mentions, or 24%, for her failure to make the Australian team in the 400-meter hurdles. Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, who is considered one of the favorites in the men’s 100 meters, was a close second with 406 mentions, or 21%. Australian swimmer Grant Hackett had 304 mentions, or 16%. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, one of the superstars for the hometown fans, had 214 mentions, or 11%. Libby Lenton, an Australian swimmer, had 178 mentions, or 9%. British marathoner Paula Radcliffe had 141 mentions, or 7%. Leisel Jones, who is expected to be one of the strongest competitors on a very strong Australian women’s swimming squad, had 118 mentions, or 6%. British yachtsman Ben Ainslie had 39 mentions, or 2%. Another Aussie swimmer, Cate Campbell, had 35 mentions, or 2%. British middle-distance runner Jo Pavey had 17 mentions, or 1%.

Methodology: Analysis includes the English-language sources taken from a database of 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Coca-Cola Leading Coverage of Olympic Global Sponsors

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The Beijing Olympic Games open in a little more than three weeks and overall media coverage of the 12 global sponsors of the Games has increased since the end of June in traditional and social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight. This coverage is in part tied to discussions of their ad campaigns, which have begun in earnest in China where the 12 will spend an estimated $6 billion on ads aimed at the Chinese audience.

Coca-Cola saw its share of coverage increase to 24%, or 257 of the total 1,062 mentions of all 12 sponsors, during the period July 1 to July 14. Some of this coverage was driven by bloggers commenting on Coca-Cola’s putting its soda in special commemorative cans labeled in languages of different participating countries. In addition, the company has commissioned recording and visual artists to contribute to another project, recording tracks or decorating soda bottles inspired by the theme of “What the Olympics means to me.”

General Electric had 192 mentions for 18%, in part because of rumors it might sell Olympics broadcaster NBC. McDonald’s was third, with 162 mentions for 15%. A portion of the McDonald’s coverage was also focused on the company’s marketing of Olympic collectables, including commemorative soda cups. Visa had 146 mentions, for 14%. Samsung had 116 mentions, for 11%. Lenovo, the only Chinese company among the global sponsors, and Omega each had 5% of the total mentions. Panasonic had 4%, and Johnson & Johnson and Kodak each had 2% of total mentions. Manulife and Atos Origin rounded out the 12.

Beijing Pollution Concerns Continue as Subject of Media Coverage

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The poor air quality in Beijing has long been a concern for the athletes training to compete in the Olympic Games. Now comes another environmental issue: water pollution. The Yellow Sea in the city of Qingdao, the site of the Olympic sailing and yachting events, has been inundated with a thick algae bloom. News of the slimy green problem precipitated a spike in media coverage of the environment and athletes’ health.

Coverage increased more than fourfold, from about 50 mentions of environmental issues on July 5 to 236 mentions on July 8. The increased coverage included reports of the algae bloom, China’s extensive clean-up effort and expressions of concern from athletes who will be competing at the venue. The environment stayed in the news, though with a bit less fervor, in the days that followed. Coverage turned to Beijing’s continuing pollution problems and the government’s additional remedies, including closing some factories and other businesses such as dry-cleaning, cement-mixing and auto-repair facilities until after the Games.

During this time discussions surrounding the effects of pollution on athletes’ health tracked closely with coverage of the environment around Beijing in general.

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Radcliffe Leads Coverage of U.K. Athletes in British and Global Media Sources

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

For athletes from the United Kingdom, the Beijing Olympic Games present the chance to compete against the world’s best, and the additional challenge of building interest and excitement in anticipation of the 2012 London Games.

Among the marquee U.K. athletes being tracked by Dow Jones Insight, marathoner Paula Radcliffe garnered the most coverage in traditional and social media sources within and outside the U.K. during the period of July 1 to July 14. Radcliffe received 59% of the 162 total mentions in U.K. sources. But she did better in the global press -- 78% of the 58 mentions found -- as she is one of the better-known British Olympians outside her home country.

Yachtsman Ben Ainslie had 29 mentions, or 18%, of mentions in U.K. sources and 10 mentions, or 17%,

outside the U.K. Middle-distance runner Jo Pavey had 17 mentions, or 10%, in the U.K. and no mentions outside the U.K. Badminton players Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson had eight and six mentions, respectively, or 5% and 4% of the total mentions, in the U.K. Emms and Robertson, who are doubles partners, had 3% and 2%, respectively, of total mentions in sources outside the U.K. Triathlete Helen Tucker received six mentions, or 4%, in U.K. sources but no mentions outside the U.K.

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Phelps Begins Quest to Make U.S. Team; Leads Press Coverage of Athletes

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The Beijing Olympic Games open in five weeks, and coverage of Olympic trials events has focused the media spotlight on the most promising candidates for a number of U.S. teams. It was no surprise, then, to see that swimmer Michael Phelps, one of the biggest names among U.S, athletes, led all athletes in coverage in both traditional and social media. He received 1,612 mentions, or 21%, of the total 7,851 mentions in traditional media (print and online) of the athletes being tracked by Dow Jones Insight. Among the total 965 mentions in the social media (blogs and boards), 200, or 21%, were about Phelps.

Following the recently completed gymnastics trials, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin were the only competitors guaranteed berths on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. Accordingly, during the period of May 30 to June 30, Johnson received 1,110 mentions, or 14%, and Liukin received 994, or 13%, mentions in traditional media. Paul Hamm, who was named to the U.S. men’s gymnastics team despite not competing because of a broken hand, had 1,028 mentions, or 13%, in the press. In the social media sources, Johnson received 161, or 17%, Hamm received 111, or 12%, and Liukin received 73, or 8%.

The Olympic trials for track and field also just got under way. Competition for media and commercial exposure is expected to be heated between women’s sprinters Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards, although the two will not compete head-to-head in China. Felix, who plans to double in the 100- and 200-meter races, has the edge in coverage going into the trials, with 762 mentions, or 10%, in traditional media and 98 mentions, or 10%, in social media. Richards, who plans to run the 400 meters, received 397 mentions, or 5%, in traditional media and 34 mentions, or 4%, in social media. Jeremy Wariner, the defending gold medalist in the men’s 400 meters, received 530 mentions in the traditional media and 83 in the social media.

Among the non-U.S. athletes being tracked, Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang received 943 mentions, or 12%, in the traditional media and 140, or 15%, in the social media. Paula Radcliffe, a British marathoner, received 279 mentions in traditional media and 50 in social media. Rounding out the top 10 athletes in the analysis of traditional media, Australian women’s swimmer Leisel Jones received 196 mentions. Australian men’s swimmer Grant Hackett rounds out the top 10 in social media, with 15 mentions.

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

McDonald’s Sees Boost in Coverage Thanks to Gay’s Record-Breaking Sprint

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

With five weeks to go before the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, McDonald’s, one of the Games’ global sponsors, has seen its share of media coverage increase. Three weeks ago, McDonald’s was trailing Visa and Coca-Cola in the media coverage game, with just 14% of the 399 mentions of the companies being tracked in traditional and social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight. For the period of June 23-30, McDonald’s increased its share to 20% of 418 total mentions in all media sources.

Part of this increase in coverage was the result of sprinter Tyson Gay’s performance at the Olympic track and field trials. Gay ran the 100 meters in a world-record time of 9.68 seconds, but the time did not qualify as a new world record because the tailwind was over the allowable speed. Gay now heads to Beijing as one of the favorites in what is considered the glamour event of the track and field competition. McDonald’s is one of Gay’s primary sponsors and would benefit considerably from his appearance on the medals podium.

Close behind McDonald’s on a percentage-share basis were Coca-Cola, with 19% of all mentions, Visa, with 17%, Samsung with 15% and General Electric with 11%. Omega, the official timekeeper for the Beijing Games, had 5% of all mentions. Lenovo, Panasonic, Johnson & Johnson, Atos Origin, Kodak and Manulife each secured less than 5% of media mentions

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Speedo’s New LZR Suit Will Create Waves in the Olympic Pool

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Thanks to Speedo, space-age technology has entered the Olympic swimming pool. Speedo, the world’s top manufacturer of performance swimwear, is causing waves with its LZR swimsuit. The suit, which was developed with the help of NASA scientists, has become the subject of some controversy in the swimming community. Based on the success of swimmers wearing the suit – 40 of the 44 world records set since the suit was introduced in February were set by swimmers wearing the LZR – swimmers from a number of countries are looking to break endorsement contracts with other swimsuit manufacturers in order to compete in the suit in Beijing. In some cases, entire national teams are seeking to break their team sponsorship agreements with companies like TYR, Adidas and Mizuno.

The controversy has been a media bonanza for Speedo. The company received 372 mentions, or 62%, of the total 597 mentions of the four swimsuit manufacturers in media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight during the period June 23-30. TYR was a distant second with 117 mentions, or 20% of the total, followed by Adidas with 81, or 14%, and Mizuno with 27, or 5%.

If swimmers wearing the LZR continue to break records and frequent the medals podium during the Olympics, the attention could provide a significant boost for the Speedo brand and increase its share of the performance swimwear market.

Coverage of Athletes’ Health Concerns Increases As Coverage of Tibet Wanes

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

When the Olympic torch began its official journey from Mt. Olympus to Beijing three months ago, the relay was a lightning rod for protesters at several stops along the route. In European and U.S. cities, activists came out to voice their opposition to China’s policies regarding Tibet. As a result, Tibet was a major topic in the media coverage of the Olympics in April, during the early days of the torch relay. Of the 47,440 mentions of Tibet in traditional and social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight during the period April 1 through July 1, nearly 30%, or 14,020, were seen during the week of April 7-13, when the protests were at their height.

Since then, as protests have died down, so has the media coverage, down to 804 mentions, or about 2%, during the week of June 9-15. Coverage doubled the following week, June 16-22, to 1,664 mentions, or 4%, coinciding with the torch’s brief visit to Tibet. Coverage dropped off again the week of June 23-30, to 997 mentions, or 2%.

In contrast, coverage of concerns over athletes’ health and how it may be affected by Beijing’s pollution and poor air quality has increased as the Games have drawn closer. Athlete health issues were a popular topic in mid-April, when the Games were drawing a lot of negative coverage over a range of issues. Of the 2,315 total mentions in traditional and social media sources tracked by Dow Jones Insight, 391, or 17%, occurred from April 14-20. Coverage then dropped off, with only 75 mentions, or 3%, during the week of June 9-15.

Media mentions of athlete health issues spiked again the week of June 16-22, to 342 mentions, or 15%. This increase coincided with China’s announcement of measures designed to reduce pollution and improve air quality in Beijing during the Olympic Games. The government announced a ban on all construction and industrial projects between July and September. Drivers will be allowed to drive on alternate days only, based on an odd-even system. And some drivers will be given financial incentives to keep their cars off the Beijing streets for the entire period.

Phelps, Hamm Emerging as Most Talked-About Athletes Heading Into Beijing

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

The opening of the Beijing Olympic Games is just over six weeks away, and, in many sports, the selection of the competitors has yet to begin. But coverage of some athletes is already well under way. Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals at the Athens Games in 2004, is one of the names garnering a significant amount of coverage, according to analysis conducted on Dow Jones Insight. Phelps, who is shaping up as one of the “faces of the Games” in the U.S., was a popular topic in the social media (blogs and boards). During the period spanning May 17 to June 17, Phelps had 104 mentions, or 25% of total mentions of the top athletes being tracked . Phelps wasn’t as popular a target in the traditional media (print and online) on a percentage share basis, accounting for 19% of all mentions of the top 10 athletes, or 844 mentions.

Gymnast Paul Hamm garnered the most coverage in the traditional media, with 1,012 mentions, or 23%. Coverage of Hamm spiked during the period of May 19-25, after he broke his hand at the U.S. National Championship. Hamm, the all-around gold medalist in Athens, announced he will be unable to compete in the Olympic trials but has petitioned to be placed directly on the team. In contrast, Hamm received very little coverage in social media, with only 28 mentions, or 7%.

Based on their success in the Athens Games, Phelps and Hamm each head into the Beijing Games with significant sponsorship and endorsement deals already in place.

Despite the fact that the Olympic trials for track and field have yet to take place, sprinter Jeremy Wariner has received a significant amount of coverage in the social media; his 88 mentions were second to Phelps. He has also received some coverage in the traditional media, with 535 mentions, or 12%.

Among non-U.S. athletes being tracked, British marathoner Paula Radcliffe received the most coverage in the press and on blogs, with 727 and 75 mentions, respectively. Other non-U.S. athletes being tracked, including Chinese diver Guo Jingjing and Australian swimmers Leisel Jones and Cate Campbell, have received scant coverage in English-language sources.

[1] Dow Jones Insight is currently tracking media mentions of 12 athletes from various countries and sports selected because of their notoriety and sponsorship potential likely tied to their success in Beijing.

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Top Sponsorship Dollars Don’t Always Buy the Most Media Coverage

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

Each of the 12 global sponsors for the Beijing Olympics has invested significant sums of money to attach its brand to the Games, but not all of them are getting their money’s worth in terms of press coverage yet. During the period of June 10-16, two companies had a combined 51% of all mentions of sponsor companies in conjunction with the Games in traditional and social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight. Visa, with 115 mentions for 29%, and Coca-Cola, with 87 mentions for 22%, outpaced the rest of the global sponsors. McDonald’s was in third, with 54 of the 399 total mentions, followed by General Electric with 39. The remaining eight – Samsung, computer maker Lenovo, watch-maker Omega, Panasonic, Johnson & Johnson, Atos Origin, the IT services company, Kodak and Manulife – have barely shown up yet.

Overall, mentions in social media (blogs and boards) made up only about 20% of all media mentions. Coca-Cola and McDonald’s received the most significant coverage in social media sources, with 32% and 33% of their overall coverage, respectively, coming from blogs and boards. For Visa, mentions in the social media accounted for only 13% of its overall coverage. Johnson & Johnson and Atos Origin received no mentions in the social media during the analyzed time period.

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.

Olympic Sponsors Can’t Avoid Controversies in Beijing

By Dow Jones Insight Staff

For the 12 global sponsors of the Beijing Olympics, attaching their names means sharing in the glory and the positive images of the Games, but it can also associate their names with some of the more negative topics as well. Three of the sponsors – Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo – received a significant amount of coverage, much of it unflattering, during the past month. Most of this coverage centered on the three companies’ sponsorship of the Olympic Torch Relay, which was targeted for protest by Free Tibet activists. Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo were specifically targeted by the protesters for their perceived tolerance of China’s relationship with Tibet.

Of Coca-Cola’s 293 mentions in traditional and social media sources analyzed by Dow Jones Insight, 185, or 63%, were related to the issue of Tibet. Similarly, 103 of Lenovo’s total mentions, or 66%, and 89 of Samsung’s 126 mentions, or 71%, were related to Tibet. For Lenovo, all of its mentions occurred in the press, while Coca-Cola and Samsung each had most of their mentions in traditional media and a small number of mentions in social media. French company Atos Origin also garnered significant coverage related to Tibet, with 92 of its 184 total mentions, or 50%, relating to Tibet.

Most of the coverage for General Electric and McDonald’s, on the other hand, was associated with general human rights issues. Forty of McDonald’s 78 total mentions, or 51%, concerned human rights issues, including 29 mentions in social media and only 11 in the press. Of GE’s 87 total mentions, 40, or 46%, were related to human rights issues. More of these mentions appeared in social media than in the press, 23 versus 17.

Methodology: Analysis includes 6,000 newspapers, wires, magazines, radio and TV transcripts; about 13,000 current-awareness news sites; 60,000 message boards and about two million blogs.