Agenda-setting theory is when the media concentrates on certain issues or subjects, and the public will perceive these issues or subjects as more significant than others. It is believed that although mass media is not successful in directly telling us what to think, they are increasingly triumphant in telling us what to think about. The mediums that usually “set the agenda” are print and broadcast media (such as newspapers, television programs, and magazines). However, could social media also be setting an agenda for the public? Specifically, in line with Dr. Jonathan Ong’s talk on Facebook and its effects on society, is agenda-setting applicable to Facebook?
Facebook is a popular social media website wherein people gather and exchange ideas, …show more content…
The media agenda and public agenda must come into question to answer this problem. The media agenda is the items or subjects that the media deem important. Similarly, the public agenda is the items or subjects that the public views as important. Therefore, media covers stories or issues that are, more often than not, satisfying both agendas. The media and public agenda are separate, but able to work together in some way to provide the “overall” agenda, with public agenda demanding their voice to be heard, and media agenda framing the issues and stories to specifically tell what the public must think …show more content…
The confusion begins when agenda-setting is once again defined - for agenda-setting to work or be applicable, the public agenda follow the media agenda. If anyone can produce the agenda and consume the agenda at the same time, the cause and effect relationship between the media agenda and public agenda is muddled.
Another point is that information is now immediately available and accessible to anyone who wishes to have it. One Google search entry will yield hundreds of thousands of results. Therefore, the consumer may accept any and all perspectives on the same topic. Contrary to traditional media, the consumer can only receive and understand the information presented to them by the news or medium used (i.e. television, radio, newspapers, etc.).
The creation of online discussion and debate groups and forums also change the way media and public agendas interact. The audience is now considered active and interactive consumers or public. They do not simply accept or realize what media sets for them to accept and realize. They, on their own time, research, and thinking, set their own agenda through providing points and receiving points of interest from other people and their own selves. A sort of self-realization happens through online or social media. This continues to jumble the relationship between gatekeepers and media
Facebook is a popular social media website wherein people gather and exchange ideas, …show more content…
The media agenda and public agenda must come into question to answer this problem. The media agenda is the items or subjects that the media deem important. Similarly, the public agenda is the items or subjects that the public views as important. Therefore, media covers stories or issues that are, more often than not, satisfying both agendas. The media and public agenda are separate, but able to work together in some way to provide the “overall” agenda, with public agenda demanding their voice to be heard, and media agenda framing the issues and stories to specifically tell what the public must think …show more content…
The confusion begins when agenda-setting is once again defined - for agenda-setting to work or be applicable, the public agenda follow the media agenda. If anyone can produce the agenda and consume the agenda at the same time, the cause and effect relationship between the media agenda and public agenda is muddled.
Another point is that information is now immediately available and accessible to anyone who wishes to have it. One Google search entry will yield hundreds of thousands of results. Therefore, the consumer may accept any and all perspectives on the same topic. Contrary to traditional media, the consumer can only receive and understand the information presented to them by the news or medium used (i.e. television, radio, newspapers, etc.).
The creation of online discussion and debate groups and forums also change the way media and public agendas interact. The audience is now considered active and interactive consumers or public. They do not simply accept or realize what media sets for them to accept and realize. They, on their own time, research, and thinking, set their own agenda through providing points and receiving points of interest from other people and their own selves. A sort of self-realization happens through online or social media. This continues to jumble the relationship between gatekeepers and media