Media agenda can determine which problems the public deems important.

Evidence

By experimentally manipulating the media’s agenda, we can decisively test Lippmann’s assertion that the problems that media decide are important become so in the minds of the public. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1446

Categorization

• XREF: Underpins agenda-setting research tradition; dovetails with existing interests in mass media effects and democratic/communication theory. — connects to: Sovereign influence over government hinges on mass-media enlightening quality. — Jürgen Habermas, A New Structural Transformation of the…, 18; Media agenda shifts alter the political weight the public assigns to events over time — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 1626; A respected publication’s coverage legitimizes scandal into public issue — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 4268 (+2 more)
• QUESTION: Does the experimental finding actually confirm Lippmann, and how does it track real-world panel studies of agenda setting?