Media agenda and online public agenda : a study of the SARS outbreak in China

Abstract

The agenda setting theory proposed that the media agenda has a great impact on the public agenda. Issues prominent in mass media become prominent in the audience’s picture as well. The global outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis in 2003 provides a rare opportunity to examine the question about media presentation of an international health crisis and its impact on public opinions. In particular in the China situation, as an integral part of the communist political systems, the Chinese media directly demonstrated the government stance. It would be quite interesting to explore its impact on the public’s perception of the SARS situation.