The power of message networks: A big–data analysis of the network agenda setting model and issue ownership
Publication: Mass Communication & Society, 18(5):557-576, 2015
Abstract
This paper presents an empirical study that tests a new concept “issue ownership network,” which is based on the Network Agenda Setting (NAS) Model and the theory of issue ownership. Big data analytics and semantic network analysis were used to examine the large dataset collected on Twitter during the 2012 U.S. presidential election. Results showed that the news media could determine the public’s identification of a political candidate with not just individual issues, but also entire networks of issues. Here we argue that traditional news media still set the public agenda in this new media environment, and do so in ways more complicated through constructing message networks. The study also demonstrates that the NAS model and its unique focus can potentially enrich the understanding of other communication and social science theories and concepts.
Keywords
Network Agenda Setting Model; agenda setting; issue ownership; network analysis; sentiment analysis; 2013; Guo & McCombs; 2011a; 2011b). Empirical
How to Cite
Guo, L., & Vargo, C. (2015). The power of message networks: A big–data analysis of the network agenda setting model and issue ownership. Mass Communication & Society, 18(5), 557–576. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2015.1045300
Version and Rights
This is the author preprint. For the final published version, see the DOI above.