Lecture 11- Agenda Setting

Agenda setting- the Social Construction of Reality

This lecture covered Agenda settings in mass media and journalism. Different concepts, theories and views were presented. However, listed below is the definition that made spoke most to me. 

Agenda Setting applies to:

PUBLIC AGENDA - the set of topics that members of the public perceive as important.

POLICY AGENDA - issues that decision makers think are salient. (i.e. legislators)

CORPORATE AGENDA - issues that big business & corporations consider important.

MEDIA AGENDA - issues discussed in the media.

(Miller K. 2007 Communication Theories: Perspectives, Processes, and Contexts) 

Agenda setting applies to 24 hour news, the current reporting of climate change and family values. It is the representation of stories. The spin or adjustment or development of a story. 

'A thesis on media agenda-setting and framing during the BP oil spill in order to determine whether newspaper coverage is a contributing factor in the delegation of oil spill claims:

The study utilized content analysis to examine newspaper coverage of the BP oil spill in the Mobile Press Register, the Sun Herald, and the Pensacola News Journal from April 20, 2010 to April 20, 2011. Results indicate that more media attention was focused on tourist areas of coastal Alabama, including Gulf Shores Beach and Orange Beach, and these areas did in fact receive the most compensation in claims from the Gulf Coast Claims Facility compared to other affected areas.'

(Stinchcomb, L.-K. S. 2011.The Deepwater Horizon: Agenda-setting in the media and its impact on claim distributions). 

This research shows that media influence can determine both public attention and public funds.

A Youtube Video explaining Agenda setting in the media!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbCYr-U7MAQ

The global media Journal's presentation of agenda setting in the media
http://www.aiou.edu.pk/gmj/artical4(b).asp