ABSTRACT
What people read and hear in the news affects what they perceive as being important in the public realm (Dearing & Rogers, 1996; Erbring, Goldenberg, & Miller, 1980; Lippman, 1922; McCombs & Shaw, 1972). A variety of studies have demonstrated that media content influences what issues the public perceives as important, as well as their knowledge of and attitudes about the issues (Iyengar, 1991; McCombs, Shaw, & Weaver, 1997). Although many factors also influence the formation of public opinion, including predispositions, interpersonal communication, and demographic variables, mass media clearly impact the daily lives of most Americans.
