I do think these 2 reasons are the main thing people started to know more about bitcoin and also the reasons there are so many negative news shrouding bitcoin. Bitconnect might be the biggest ponzi coin scheme yet but the downfall of it make more people started to search about cryptocurrencies because it makes people more cautious about what investment is that all about.

Media influence on the other hand is the most corcening parts and i'm sure media has been the biggest free advertisement campaign for bitcoin although most recent news about it was negative news and comment. However it raise people awareness about cryptocurrency and i think media has done his job well until now