By: Angelo Gerard R. Fulgencio
Communication 1102 blog entry 2
Kassed, H. K., & Mustaffa, C. S. (2017). Agenda Setting Theory and International News: A Comparative Analysis of News Articles Coverage on Iraq War in Malaysian English Newspapers. SHS Web of Conferences, 33, 00081. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/20173300081
As I read the study entitled “Agenda Setting Theory and International News: A Comparative Analysis of News Articles Coverage on Iraq War in Malaysian English Newspapers”, the purpose of the study was made particularly to identify, compare, and analyze how two news organizations in Malaysia applied the agenda setting theory on setting an agenda about what kind of issues are prioritized based on the Iraq war. The agenda setting theory was used in this study because the researchers want to know the prioritized issues that they want to focus. The methodology used in this study was a quantitative research analysis since it is more inclined to an objective perception. The study analyses the two media organizations on their publications before, during, and after the Iraq war since they try to compare what issues do they focus on that timeline. The methodology focuses only to four issues about the US policy and the occupation of Iraq, Iraq’s needs and sufferings, Malaysia’s policy towards Iraq, and the impact of war in Malaysia in which they compare and analyze these publication datas on the given timeline. After analyzing the study, the data shows that the first media organization shows the prioritization on the publicized issues of Malaysia’s policy towards Iraq and the US policy and the occupation of Iraq, while the second media organization prioritized the publicized issues of Iraq’s needs and sufferings and the impact of war in Malaysia. In conclusion, the two news organizations have different prioritized agendas to think about for the public in which the data shows that the first organization focuses the issues on Malaysia’s policy towards Iraq and the US policy and the occupation of Iraq, while the second organization focuses on Iraq’s needs and sufferings and the impact of war in Malaysia. Both news organizations shows different perspectives based on the Iraq war and both tend to amplify their prioritized issues about the war specifically setting an agenda to think about for the public.
My opinion about the study is that it provided a good data despite a lengthy study because of its timeline from the Iraq war. The study was able to come up into a conclusion that proves agenda setting theory is used by news organizations for it prioritized news publications that can make the public think about certain issues. As they compare the outcomes of the data, the two news organizations have different publications in which they target different issues to provide for the public. This captures the public what to think about and can amplify the given news. Different perspectives and issues are present in this study and in my opinion, a diverse information can be beneficial since the public get to know different kinds of perspective. The downside for this is that it can prioritized a certain topic even though there are more topics that are urgently needed to focus on. The agenda setting must not be used as a tool for profit, fame, or even propaganda. It must be used for the best of the public on what they must look into in order to be aware and prepare theirselves and learn good from their insights. The study is something that is needed to look into for this very rampant in today’s world and can be used as a weapon for destruction.
Agenda Setting Theory 