Which theory posits that media set the agenda for public discussion, i.e., what to think about?

Which theory posits that media set the agenda for public discussion, i.e., what to think about?

• A. Conflict theory
• B. Media-dependency theory
• C. Framing theory
• D. Agenda-setting theory

Answer: (D)

Agenda-setting theory says media shape what people think about by making certain topics more salient through their coverage. When a topic dominates news stories and airtime, the public tends to see it as more important and, as a result, discusses it more, prioritizes it in civic life, and even guides policy conversations. This directly matches the idea of “what to think about,” because the media influence is on issue salience rather than dictating specific opinions about those issues. Framing theory would focus on how the issue is presented and interpreted, shaping the lens through which people view it rather than which issues get attention. Media-dependency theory explains how reliant audiences are on media under particular circumstances, describing conditions for effects rather than which topics become salient. Conflict theory offers a broad lens on power struggles in society, not a mechanism for media-driven topic salience. A classic finding by McCombs and Shaw showed that the issues receiving the most media attention tended to rise in public importance, illustrating the core effect of agenda-setting.

Agenda-setting theory says media shape what people think about by making certain topics more salient through their coverage. When a topic dominates news stories and airtime, the public tends to see it as more important and, as a result, discusses it more, prioritizes it in civic life, and even guides policy conversations. This directly matches the idea of “what to think about,” because the media influence is on issue salience rather than dictating specific opinions about those issues.

Framing theory would focus on how the issue is presented and interpreted, shaping the lens through which people view it rather than which issues get attention. Media-dependency theory explains how reliant audiences are on media under particular circumstances, describing conditions for effects rather than which topics become salient. Conflict theory offers a broad lens on power struggles in society, not a mechanism for media-driven topic salience. A classic finding by McCombs and Shaw showed that the issues receiving the most media attention tended to rise in public importance, illustrating the core effect of agenda-setting.