Do the media set the parliamentary agenda? A comparative study in seven countries

2016/02/15 by Rens Vliegenthart, Stefaan Walgrave, Frank R. Baumgartner +12 · 14 citations
Social Sciences · Business, Management and Accounting · #Media Studies and Communication #Social Media and Politics #Political Influence and Corporate Strategies

paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/1475-6765.12134

Abstract

Abstract A growing body of work has examined the relationship between media and politics from an agenda‐setting perspective: Is attention for issues initiated by political elites with the media following suit, or is the reverse relation stronger? A long series of single‐country studies has suggested a number of general agenda‐setting patterns but these have never been confirmed in a comparative approach. In a comparative, longitudinal design including comparable media and politics evidence for seven European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), this study highlights a number of generic patterns. Additionally, it shows how the political system matters. Overall, the media are a stronger inspirer of political action in countries with single‐party governments compared to those with multiple‐party governments for opposition parties. But, government parties are more reactive to media under multiparty governments.

Citations

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