Abstract
Most research has focused on how conventional news influenced second-level agenda setting, but more research needs to investigate how humorous news might affect attribute agenda setting, and compare those effects with conventional news. In this experiment, participants received media messages with the same information structured as either conventional news or humorous news to examine how the structure of the media message might affect second-level agenda setting. The results indicated people accepted the attributes of issues related to certain issues when it was presented as a humorous news program. However, conventional news was more successful in second-level agenda setting as compared to humorous news, meaning people accepted attributes of issues more when presented as a conventional news program.
Highlights
Abstracts Most research has focused on how conventional news influenced second-level agenda setting, but more research needs to investigate how humorous news might affect attribute agenda setting, and compare those effects with conventional news
The present study was designed to determine this by focusing on whether humorous news shows affect the transfer of attributes associated with issues and, if so, whether the shows affect the transfer of attribute salience to conventional news shows
This experimental study compared conventional news, such as what one might hear on CNN, with humorous news, such as what one might hear on The Daily Show or The Colbert Report, to determine how either impacted second-level agenda-setting effects
Summary
Abstracts Most research has focused on how conventional news influenced second-level agenda setting, but more research needs to investigate how humorous news might affect attribute agenda setting, and compare those effects with conventional news. Conventional news was more successful in second-level agenda setting as compared to humorous news, meaning people accepted attributes of issues more when presented as a conventional news program. Survey research has shown how young people turn to humorous news shows for information (Kohut, 2007) These shows use satire to present information; people gain political information from these shows. This experimental study compared conventional news, such as what one might hear on CNN, with humorous news, such as what one might hear on The Daily Show or The Colbert Report, to determine how either impacted second-level agenda-setting effects
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