Interest-Group Influence on the Media Agenda: A Case Study

Attempting to add to the growing literature on setting the media agenda (or agenda building), the study uses agenda-setting theory in a case study of testing the correlation between the agendas of an interest group (Christian Coalition) and media (major U.S. newspapers). Highly significant relationships were found in correlations cross-lagged at three months between the agenda of the group's official newspaper and the media agenda, and statistically significant second-level effects were also noted. One-and two-month lags yielded lower correlations, but also in the direction of the Coalition setting the media agenda for coverage of the group.