The Third Level of Agenda Setting in Contemporary China: Tracking Descriptions of Moral and National Education (MNE) in Media Coverage and People’s Minds

Authors

  • Yang Cheng The University of Missouri
  • Ching-Man Chan The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Keywords:

attribute agenda setting, China, Hong Kong, conflict, network agenda setting, network analysis

Abstract

This article investigates the third level of agenda setting during the anti–Moral and National Education movement in Hong Kong—a Chinese society—in the summer of 2012. Our content and network analyses focus on 532 newspaper articles and 342 public surveys describing the event. Evidence reveals a strong correlation between the media and online and off-line public attribute network agendas. Results also demonstrate that, at the third level, the media agenda can lose its influence on the setting of the off-line public agenda. Several contingent factors include the political stance and news media credibility. In addition, Hong Kong activists’ young age may influence the agenda-setting effects. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Author Biographies

Yang Cheng, The University of Missouri

Yang Cheng, ccylove2010@gmail.com; Tel: +1(512)-879-7756; School of Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia (Lead author, Corresponding author)Yang (Alice) CHENG is a full-funded PhD student at the School of Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA. Her research interests include new media effects, public relations effectiveness and value, crisis communication and management, conflict resolution, and cross-cultural communication. Some of her publications have appeared in the New media & Society, International Journal of Communication, Encyclopedia of Public Relations, Social Media and Crisis Communication, The Handbook of International Crisis Communication Research, and the Journal of Radio & Television Studies, among others. She has also presented research papers at international conferences (e.g. ICA, NCA, and AEJMC), and received the Best Student Paper Award from the International Communication Association (ICA) in both 2013 and 2014; Peter Debreceny Corporate Award in the 18th International Public Relations Research Conference in 2015. 

Ching-Man Chan, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

CHING MAN CHAN is an independent researcher with a particular interest in media’s role in influencing social change and reflecting community concerns. Not affiliated with any university or academic institution, Chan works on research projects in her spare time in collaboration with other researchers to examining the application of western theories to eastern contexts. Her past projects have received awards from the International Communication Association (ICA) in multiple years. Chan works as a communications director in a listed company and earned a Master’s Degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong.Ching Man Chan, louixx.chan@gmail.com; Tel: +852-9212-7007; NAH Room 202, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong (Author)  

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Published

2015-03-30

Issue

Vol. 9 (2015)

Section

Articles

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