Setting The Agenda: Mass Media And Public Opinion

Setting the Agenda describes the mass media’s significant and sometimes controversial role in determining which topics are at the centre of public attention and action. In this new edition of his comprehensive book, Max McCombs, one of the founding fathers of the agenda-setting tradition of research, extends his previous synthesis of hundreds of studies carried out on this central role of the mass media in the shaping of public opinion. Throughout the book, McCombs discusses the sources of media agendas, the psychological explanation for their impact, and the consequences for attitudes, opinions, and behaviour. The edition also debates the impact of the internet and the expanded media landscape on agenda setting, making it a valuable resource for students and readers interested in media, communications, and politics.