Discussing media attention to Donald Trump, Jay Smooth (Ill Doctrine) describes what sociologists call agenda setting. The phrase refers to the media’s ability to shape what we think about (and what we don’t think about), if not what to think about it. That is, the media can’t necessarily tell us what to think, but it can certainly keep some issues on-the-agenda while leaving others invisible to us.
In this case, Smooth points out, the media’s coverage of Trump led to public interest in him; that public interest waned as soon as Trump was out of the news.
See also Agenda Setting and Obama’s Socialist Leanings and Media Reaction to Janet Jackson’s “Wardrobe Malfunction.”
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 3
Anon — May 20, 2011
that is so true. It is a bit like the rules of the internet. the one i am talking about is is rule 14. Do not argue with a troll — it means that they win. though, instead of troll this time it is Trump. BTW good luck with the trolls
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Katherine — May 20, 2011
The video details exactly how I feel about pretty much everything the news media seems to care about these days, barring natural disasters and SOME local politics (which of course gets better analysis OUTSIDE the mainstream news media anyway).