Agenda setting media effect – UGC NET Question

Agenda setting theory states that media may not tell people what to think,but they are very effective in telling people what to think about. Continuous coverage of certain issues makes them seem more important in the public mind. The stem describes this influence on perceived importance,which is the essence of agenda setting.

Option A:
Surveillance refers to media’s role in providing information about events in the environment,but does not specifically address issue priority.

Option B:
Gatekeeping is about selecting which stories are broadcast,while agenda setting focuses on the cumulative effect of coverage on public priorities.

Option C:
Noise is interference with signal transmission and does not explain why some issues become highly salient.

Option D:
Agenda setting helps explain why some topics dominate public debate even if others are equally serious,making option D appropriate.