V. ANALYSIS

The work of Maxwell McCombs entitled: "The Agenda-Setting Function of the Press" relates the fact that the press plays a primary role in the life of the public and influences the focus of attention of individuals and makes provision of the "facts and opinions that shape perspectives on topics of the day." (2005) McCombs explains that 'agenda-setting' of the press works to influence the issues in the news and provides that news to the public proactively. Variation is noted by McCombs to exist "among individuals and across issues" and states that "issue salience on the press agenda may transfer very quickly to the public agenda." (2005) the variations in the way that individuals respond to the news provided by the press and the agenda of the press "are explained by the need for orientation, the idea that individuals have an innate curiosity about the world around them. For a wide variety of public affairs topics, the news media provide this orientation." (McCombs, 2005)

This view is clearly evidenced in the four news reports reviewed for analysis in this research study. The first and second of the four reports reviewed were in the nature of fact-reporting and the third report was for the most part aligned with the same type of report provision however, the fourth report reviewed for analysis in this study works very hard to set its own agenda. The picture heading the four article reviewed shows a friendly pediatrician preparing to give a very cute infant a vaccine. This article highly encourages vaccinations for children and brushes completely aside even the thought of any possible link between vaccines and autism or other complications from these vaccines. This report is one that would leave any normal parent who was considered exemption from vaccines for their children like a negligent, inane and uncaring parent who is not doing what 'all the other' or approaching 97% of all other parents are doing for their children -- that being, refusing to and failing to question the safety...

Chron.com 14 Apr 2008. Online available at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/katy/news/5698780.html
Harris, Gardner (2008) Public Forum to Address Safety Issues on Vaccines. 11 Apr 2008. The New York Times. Online available at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/health/policy/11vaccine.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Healy, Bernadine (2008) Fighting the Autism-Vaccine War. 10 April 2008. Brain & Behavior. U.S. News and World Report. Online available at http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/brain-and-behavior/2008/04/10/fighting-the-autism-vaccine-war.html

Paul Offit: Autism and Vaccines - a Careless Ruling. Dallas News Opinion Editorial. 78 Apr 2008. Online available at http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-offit_07edi.ART.State.Edition1.4664920.html

Overholser, Geneva and Jamieson, Kathleen Hall (2005) the Press. Institutions of American Democracy. Oxford University Press.

McChesney, Bob (2001) Policing the Unthinkable. Open Democracy

McCombs, Maxwell (2005) Agenda Setting of the Press in Overholser, Geneva and Jamieson, Kathleen Hall (2005) the Press. Institutions of American Democracy. Oxford University Press