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Cited by 9,537Media Studies and CommunicationMedia Influence and PoliticsJournalism and Media Studies

The Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media

McCombs, Maxwell E., Shaw, Donald L.·1972·Public Opinion Quarterly
DOI 10.1086/267990
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Abstract

In choosing and displaying news, editors, newsroom staff, and broadcasters play an important part in shaping political reality. Readers learn not only about a given issue, but also how much importance to attach to that issue from the amount of information in a news story and its position. In reflecting what candidates are saying during a campaign, the mass media may well determine the important issues—that is, the media may set the “agenda” of the campaign.

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Crossref · 10.1086/267990

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1 of 1 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The results of Iyengar and Kinder validated the classic agenda-setting model, confirming that traditional media had a high capacity to define the importance assigned to issues and to influence voters' criteria for judging political leaders.

    “Los resultados de Iyengar y Kinder validaban el modelo clásico de establecimiento de agenda propuesto por McCombs y Shaw (1972), confirmando que los medios tradicionales tenían una alta capacidad para definir el grado de importancia asignado a los temas mediante la relevancia noticiosa y, así, influir en los criterios usados por los votantes para juzgar líderes políticos.”

    From #Tarifazo. Medios tradicionales y fusión de agenda en redes sociales (2018) · cites this paper as McCombs & Shaw, 1972

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Authors
McCombs, M. E., & Shaw, D. L.
Affiliations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
ORCID
McCombs, Maxwell E.
Venue
Public Opinion Quarterly
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1972
Volume
36
Issue
2
Pages
176
ISSN
0033-362X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1086/267990
OpenAlex
W2150957645
Cited by
9,537
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 611 · 2025: 632 · 2024: 546 · 2023: 541 · 2022: 532 · 2021: 537 · 2020: 548 · 2019: 526 · 2018: 464 · 2017: 408 · 2016: 418 · 2015: 414 · 2014: 404 · 2013: 392 · 2012: 316
FWCI
107.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Public Opinion Quarterly (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Media Studies and Communication
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Media Influence and Politics
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Journalism and Media Studies
Keywords
agenda setting, mass media, news selection, newsroom practices, political campaigns, issue salience

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