Reassessing Twitter’s Agenda-Building Power: An Analysis of Intermedia Agenda-Setting Effects During the 2016 Presidential Primary Season

Bethany A. Conway-Silva; Christine R. Filer; Kate Kenski; Eric Tsetsi

doi:10.1177/0894439317715430

Reassessing Twitter’s Agenda-Building Power: An Analysis of Intermedia Agenda-Setting Effects During the 2016 Presidential Primary Season

Bethany A. Conway-Silva, Christine R. Filer, Kate Kenski, Eric Tsetsi

Communication

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between elite news media agendas and campaign agendas during the 2016 presidential primary season. Computer-assisted content analysis was used to assess issue emphasis within Twitter feeds of U.S. presidential primary candidates and their campaigns as well as the nation’s top newspapers. The relationship between the overall Twitter agenda and that of newspapers, as well as the influence of front-runners Clinton, Cruz, Sanders, and Trump, was investigated using time series analysis. Aggregate and candidate-specific findings reveal some reciprocal relationships, but overall greater influence of newspapers on the Twitter agenda was detected. Findings suggest that Twitter has the potential to break free from and influence traditional media gatekeeping.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	469-483
Number of pages	15
Journal	Social Science Computer Review
Volume	36
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439317715430
State	Published - Aug 1 2018

Keywords

Twitter
agenda building
intermedia agenda setting
primaries
social media

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Social Sciences
Computer Science Applications
Library and Information Sciences
Law

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10.1177/0894439317715430

Cite this

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abstract = "This study examined the relationship between elite news media agendas and campaign agendas during the 2016 presidential primary season. Computer-assisted content analysis was used to assess issue emphasis within Twitter feeds of U.S. presidential primary candidates and their campaigns as well as the nation{\textquoteright}s top newspapers. The relationship between the overall Twitter agenda and that of newspapers, as well as the influence of front-runners Clinton, Cruz, Sanders, and Trump, was investigated using time series analysis. Aggregate and candidate-specific findings reveal some reciprocal relationships, but overall greater influence of newspapers on the Twitter agenda was detected. Findings suggest that Twitter has the potential to break free from and influence traditional media gatekeeping.",

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AB - This study examined the relationship between elite news media agendas and campaign agendas during the 2016 presidential primary season. Computer-assisted content analysis was used to assess issue emphasis within Twitter feeds of U.S. presidential primary candidates and their campaigns as well as the nation’s top newspapers. The relationship between the overall Twitter agenda and that of newspapers, as well as the influence of front-runners Clinton, Cruz, Sanders, and Trump, was investigated using time series analysis. Aggregate and candidate-specific findings reveal some reciprocal relationships, but overall greater influence of newspapers on the Twitter agenda was detected. Findings suggest that Twitter has the potential to break free from and influence traditional media gatekeeping.

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Reassessing Twitter’s Agenda-Building Power: An Analysis of Intermedia Agenda-Setting Effects During the 2016 Presidential Primary Season

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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