FW: How the World Views the U.S. and China, Racial Gap in Zimmerman Trial Interest, Digital Tools and Student Writing

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING YOUR WORLD July 18, 2013 FOLLOW US: America's Global Image Remains More Positive Than China's Publics around the world believe the global balance of power is shifting. China's economic power is on the rise, and many think it will eventually supplant the United States as the world's dominant superpower. But despite perceptions of China's increasing power, the U.S. enjoys a more favorable  global image. READ THE REPORT > GRAPHIC: VIEWS OF TWO SUPERPOWERS > DATABASE: ATTITUDES BY TOPIC, REGION > Wide Racial Gap on Who Followed Zimmerman Trial The final days of the trial of George Zimmerman attracted relatively modest public interest overall, but there was a wide racial gap in interest in the trial. Blacks were more than twice as likely as whites to say they tracked news about the Zimmerman trial very closely (56% vs. 20%), and 67% of blacks say they watched at least some live coverage of the trial, compared with 38% of whites. READ THE REPORT > The Impact of Digital Tools on Student Writing A majority of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers say digital tools encourage students to be more invested in their writing and make teaching writing easier. But they also worry that they are having some undesirable effects. READ THE REPORT > Brazil's Changing Religious Landscape As Pope Francis prepares to celebrate World Youth Day in Brazil, an analysis of census data finds that the share of Brazilians who are Catholic has been declining. The percentage of Brazilians who belong to Protestant churches, other religions or no religion has been growing. READ THE REPORT > Fewer See Events in Egypt as Critical to U.S. Interests Public interest in news from Egypt has plummeted since the early weeks of the Arab Spring in 2011. And the share of Americans saying what happens in Egypt is "very important" to U.S. interests has fallen from 46% to 36%. READ THE REPORT > FACT TANK The politics and demographics of food stamp recipients About one-in-five Americans (18%) has participated in the food stamp program. While Republicans are less likely than Democrats or Independents to say they have participated, when the political lens shifts from partisanship to ideology, the participation gap vanishes: 17% of conservatives, liberals and moderates say they have participated. READ MORE > This week on Fact Tank: The most and least culturally diverse countries in the world; America and Congress are more polarized than ever; Twitter anger about the Zimmerman verdict; news magazines hit by a big drop in ad pages; 75% of Americans say legal status for undocumented immigrants would help the economy; and is Sen. Mike Enzi really the median age of the Senate? FOLLOW @FACTTANK > QUOTED The mass uprisings this summer in Egypt, Turkey and Brazil are powerful reminders that the middle classes drive history. What remains unclear, however, is where they are driving it. ALAN MURRAY PRESIDENT, PEW RESEARCH CENTER IN A WALL STREET JOURNAL OP-ED > Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan source of data and analysis. It does not take advocacy positions. © PEW RESEARCH CENTER | 1615 L Street NW, Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20036