Agenda Setting and Issue Salience Online

Abstract

This study examined the agenda-setting process and the role it may play on the Internet, specifically in electronic bulletin boards (EBB). Online media coverage of four issues from five news media were downloaded during the 1996 fall political campaign. The frequency of EBB discussions of each issue served as the surrogate for the public agenda. An ARIMA model cross-correlational test showed EBB discussions of three issues—immigration, health care, and taxes—correlated with news media coverage, with time lags varying from 1 day to 7 days. Only for abortion did the media have no apparent agenda-setting effect. Media coverage apparently can provide individuals with information they can use in their EBB specific-issue discussions.