I think the concept of agenda setting helped me understand the 2008 Presidential Election even more than I had before by allowing me to look beyond emotions and at the true issues going on during the election. Agenda setting is a tool the media or a candidate uses to influence what the viewer thinks about. Through agenda setting, most of the stories, articles, headlines, etc. will focus on an issue the media/candidate wants covered. By putting a spotlight on a certain issue the media/candidate outlets gain control of a person's mindset when that person makes conversation, and most importantly, decisions.
This is exactly what happened in the 2008 Presidential Election. Emotions played a significant part in the election. The media focused on Barack Obama potentially becoming the 1st African-American President, and harped on the change and hope he would bring to a country whose current leader who was not too cool with the people. This is actually what Obama's campaign was all about, not focusing on the issues of the day like the War in Iraq or the economy or recycling, but the intended "hope" he would bring back to America. Obama's campaign sparked what American's talked about and ultimately they thought of when placing there ballots in the voting booths.
With strategies like agenda setting, the media and certain candidates have the power to sway the people to come on in and join there vote. Going into the voting booths with a clear vision on the "real" issues of the world can be hard when the media is only showing what they want. That is why making the right judgement is key when making a decision that might just might change your way of life.
Photos from:
http://techbuddha.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/obama-hope.jpg
http://evilvince.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/barack_obama_change_fairey.jpg
http://www.kpao.org/blog/2008/12/20/hope-change-obama.gif
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