The Influence of Media and Community Sentiment on Policy Decision-Making

From headline to lifeline: does news set agenda for policy?

“…Nevertheless, compared to articles with a neutral attitude or a praising tone, articles which shows negative attitudes about the program are less likely to cite research. Although our analysis suggests that the reforms often followed negative public opinions about the Lifeline Program, it has long been lamented that there is a disconnect between public disapproval, which is at least partially reflected by mass media and policymaking (Sigillo and Sicafuse, 2015). Because policymakers are more likely to respond to opinions backed by concrete evidence and careful elaboration (Sutcliffe and Court, 2005), news reports which express negative views about the policy could benefit from relying more on using research to support their argument.…”

Spotlight on early childhood education. A newspaper coverage analysis of universal preschool debate in Argentina

“…Media are often referred to as "agenda setters" as they determine which issues are newsworthy and increase exposure for the issues they deem important (Sigillo and Sicafuse 2015;Soroka et al 2012). Also, the way media frame the news, "filter and translate scientific information to the public" (Epstein 1996 as cited in Pyzmony-Levy 2016, p. 3) influences not only what social problems are considered relevant, but also how individuals perceive these issues (Soroka et al 2012).…”

‘More Social’ Means ‘More Flawed’: How New Media is Contributing to the Breakdown of Polish Democracy

“…Impact on the pillars of democracy Emotionality of messages Political decisions made under the strong influence of public opinion are a negation of pluralism. Political actors cease to have a creative function in the formation of ideas, guided only by the current analysis of online content, which does not necessarily reflect the 'will of the people' and is usually an extremist distortion of it; the tripartite division of power virtually ceases to function when decision-making is reduced to succumbing to media mediated emotions (Sigillo, Sicafuse, 2015). Low level of legal culture and digital competence of citizens This stems from the failure to apply the law in the online sphere, where the source of the message is usually unknown (meme creators remain elusive).…”