Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study matches public agendas with media agendas to explore agenda-setting effects in 11 countries worldwide. It also compares media agendas across countries to consider whether international intermedia influence exists. Findings suggest a general pattern of the agenda-setting function of mass media in the countries examined. The study also found evidence of international intermedia influence and thus presents a new way to look at the intermedia agenda-setting relationship – moving this research from comparisons within a local area to cross-national intermedia comparisons.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study used time-series analysis of news coverage and blog discussion about the Iraq War from mid-2006 through late 2007 to examine intermedia agenda setting and agenda building. The amount of newspaper and television coverage was positively correlated with the number of posts on “A-list” political blogs and personal blogs. Limited evidence was found that A-list political blogs influenced news coverage. Military deaths influenced news coverage, but White House news releases were less influential.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This investigation explores the role of presidential communications regarding the terrorism meta-issue and media content in shaping the salience of the issue from September 11, 2001 to the end of 2004. The study analyzed 1456 news stories (620 from Fox News, 836 from CNN) and 181 presidential communication efforts (including the text of speeches, press conferences, letters, position papers, executive orders, and radio addresses) during this time frame. Significant correlations were found supporting both first- and second-level agenda-building and agenda-setting effects. These results reaffirm existing agenda-building and agenda-setting research, but also extend these theories in terms of context and theoretical application. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: To explore the influence of international public relations on U.S. news media and public perceptions of foreign nations, this study used a triangulation of methods by comparing public relations counsel for foreign nations, media content, and public opinion data in 1998 and 2002. The results indicate that while the relationship between public relations counsel and media coverage was minimal at the level of object and substantive attribute salience, linkages were observed with affective attribute salience. In general, public relations counsel was associated with a decrease in the amount of negative news coverage. At the level of individual news stories, it was connected to increased positive valence in media content. For the dimensions of news coverage associated with public relations, media salience was related to public salience and attitudes regarding foreign nations. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study investigated the process of campaign agenda formation, focusing on the role of political advertising--an efficient surrogate of the whole campaign agenda. The data analyses provided partial support for the hypothesis that campaign ads function as a significant agenda setter for the news media. Televised candidate commercials meaningfully influenced subsequent candidate coverage on television, yet showed a mutual relationship with the print news. The data, however, provided strong support for the print news’s role as an agenda initiator for broadcasting news. It was also found that the tone of advertising moderated the effects of campaign ads on subsequent news coverage; there was a stronger correspondence of the news agenda with oppositional ads than with self-promoting ads.