Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Local Newspaper Agenda-Setting As Reflected In Letters To The Editor, Thomas J. Mcdonnell

Masters Theses

In an effort to test the basic agenda-setting theory, a content analysis of three small to mid-size Illinois newspapers was done to determine what correlation, if any, existed between the content of the front page and the issues addressed in the letters to the editor section. Pearson product moment correlations were calculated for all issues addressed by the papers and the public. No support was found for basic agenda-setting in this study. There was partial support the hypothesis that local newspapers would be more effective setting the local issue agenda.