Do channels matter? Investigating media characteristics in the agenda-building process of an election campaign.

Author(s)
Ramona Vonbun, Jörg Matthes
Abstract

This study investigates the agenda-building process as it involves multiple information sources. Next to traditional news media like television newscasts and newspapers, the study considers online news sites and news agencies in the agenda-building process. Furthermore, the policy agenda is differentiated into the agenda of governing and opposition parties. The scope is to give a compressive overview of the agenda-building process during election campaigns as it involves several information sources and occurs within the 24-hour news cycle. Additionally, this study aims to conceptualize the agenda-building potential of various information sources by discussing their features, i.e. channel characteristics. Therefore, we focus on the impact of two specific characteristics, namely stability and flexibility in the agenda-building process. To test the theoretical assumptions, a semi-automatic content analysis of 15 policy issues in 14 online news sites, 18 newspapers, nine newscasts, wire copy and press releases of six parties was conducted during the last six weeks of the Austrian national election campaign 2013. Findings indicate that during the 24-hour news cycle, agenda building is a multi-directional process shaped by the channel characteristics stability and flexibility. Additionally, newswires and online news sites of traditional media outlets are important agenda builders during election times.

Organisation(s)
Department of Communication
Journal
Journalism Studies
Volume
19
Pages
2359-2378
No. of pages
20
ISSN
1461-670X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2017.1349547
Publication date
12-2018
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
508007 Communication science
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Communication
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/do-channels-matter-investigating-media-characteristics-in-the-agendabuilding-process-of-an-election-campaign(cbc3a7f6-3ab5-4eee-aadc-910a871aaa05).html