The media often set the public agenda in countries around the world, Professor Wayne Wanta shared with about 80 students and faculty members at the building of Tsinghua University School of Journalism and Communication.

A past president of Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, Professor Wanta brought charm and vivacity to his presentation of agenda-setting theory during a lecture entitled ' News Media and National Images: Influences on Our Perceptions of the World '.

“Most of the time public agenda is influenced by the media agenda,” said Professor Wanta, chair of the Department of Journalism at the University of Florida.

During the guest lecture, he explained his research on how the traditional media and the internet influence public opinion. He also mentioned the effects of the media on the public agenda, including motivation of young voters, popularization of attitudes, a two-step flow of information, and citizen frustration with information overload.

Professor Jianbin Jin, Administrative Dean in School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, presided over this guest lecture. Rick Dunham, co-director of the Global Business Journalism program, Jane Sasseen, a visiting professor and former editor at Business Week and Yahoo News， and Wataru Sawamura, visiting professor of the Tsinghua University attended this lecture and made an interactive discussion.

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