Policy Agenda Essay #9

One of the most important ways the media influences politics is through agenda setting.

A policy agenda is a collection of important issues which people are closely examining. These people may or may not make up the government, however, they play a part in the policy-making. The media engages in the agenda setting by the media getting the nation's
citizens to watch and try to understand the subject or problem on that topic. The president tends to have an advantage at gaining media attention because of his personal image. He is the leader of the United States and this public image attracts more attention. Contrasting between 1974 and 2002, older generations tend to view the network nightly news more than younger generations and continues to be that way. Also comparing 1974 and 2002, the young people's viewership of the network nightly news has gone down significantly and continues to decline. One implication for presidents in their use of the media to promote their political and policy objectives to the American public is the State of the Union address. It is broadcasted on every network and also on the internet so it gives everyone the opportunity, young or old, to hear the president promote their policy objectives.