| ID | 149492 |
| Title Proper | Disentangling media effects |
| Other Title Information | the impact of short-term and long-term news coverage on Belgian emergency assistance |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Joly, Jeroen |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Whether and how media are able to influence policy and the political decision-making process is still the topic of much debate. However, if news media are indeed able to influence policy, they are commonly believed to do so indirectly through their agenda-setting function – by getting issues onto the political agenda after sudden peaks of attention. Yet, despite the assertion of agenda-setting theory that policy changes occur mainly through steady advocacy of policy alternatives, little attention has been paid to the long-term effects of media exposure. The analysis of emergency assistance in Belgium from 2000–2008 shows that short-term and long-term media attention to specific countries affect decision-making in quite different ways. This study reveals different ways in which media attention can impact policymaking, as short-term attention mainly determines which countries receive assistance, while long-term attention affects the amount of assistance granted. |
| `In' analytical Note | Cooperation and Conflict Vol. 51, No.4; Dec 2016: p.428-446 |
| Journal Source | Cooperation and Conflict 2016-12 51, 4 |
| Key Words | Media Effects ; Humanitarian Aid ; CNN Effect ; Emergency Assistance |