Politics & Media

  Agenda setting is one of the main ways in which news media influences politics.  Policy agenda includes the issues that attract serious attention in congress, often as a result of the bad economy (job scarce, bad business, economics, etc.).  National news media engages in agenda settings so much that the media has the opportunity to influence what's put on the agenda.  The media draws attention to both the public and government officials.
  The president tends to have an advantage over Congress in gaining media attention because first off, he is the leader of the United States of America, he is more powerful than any single voice of Congress, and while Congress is composed of many people, resulting in many voices trying to be heard through controversy, the president is one voice and it is easy to hear.
  According to the preceding table, it it obvious that older people have always watched more Nightly News than the younger generations.  Yet from 1974 to 2002, less people watch the news as a result of the constantly indecisive, crazy way Congress is portrayed on T.V. People were much more interested in politics in the 1900s than the 20th century, possibly as a result of the media "fight" for attention between Congress and the President.