Sentia Media index: finger spin puts PM into bat

Between handing out gongs and visiting disaster-hit areas, Julia Gillard was the star of the media this week. But her boyfriend tried clumsily to steal some of the spotlight.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s media coverage — while still comparatively low for the most mentioned Aussie pollie — is steadily rising as the political wheels begin turning again. The PM dished out Order of Australia honours, visited the bushfire-impacted Gippsland region (with Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu) and pledged support for Queensland flood victims.

Our analysis shows another 13% of Gillard’s coverage came care of partner Tim Mathieson, who bowled up some poor-taste finger spin to the Windies at the Lodge. The PM also used her captain’s pick to anoint Nova Peris for the Senate, at the expense of Trish Crossin, who makes her first and probably last appearance in our charts today.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman maintained second place thanks to extended radio and television appearances in relation to the floods in his state. Also up north, Bob Katter made news by standing down two of his party’s state Senate candidates (Tess Corbett and Bernard Gaynor) after their comments about homos-xuality.

Much discussion on national identity was spawned by Malcolm Turnbull’s “My Australia” article in The Australian Financial Review; Anthony Albanese left the deep thinking to Malcolm In The Middle, instead ripping into the current Opposition Leader, ramping up his branding of Tony Abbott as negative. Albo also found time to remind everyone that without Bob Brown the Greens will suffer at the ballot box.

Crikey Political Index: January 24-30

It’s the first time in forever Kevin Rudd hasn’t made our talkback or social media top five. Talkback was fired up about the Peris selection and treatment of Crossin. In WA callers shared views about Premier Colin Barnett and Opposition Leader Mark McGowan as the state election looms.

Talkback top five

Katter featured on social media networks after standing down two Australian Party Senate candidates for their comparisons between homos-xuality and p-edophilia.

Social media top five