Long-term evidence of cultural agenda setting: The case of the Smithsonian Institution

Abstract

Abstract The current study draws evidence from the Smithsonian Institution while examining a classic agenda-setting hypothesis during a period of 30 years in relation to media attention of the Smithsonian and a behavioral index of public salience, – namely its long-term, monthly visits. Second, it explores a larger theoretical concern often expressed by scholars in terms of the agenda-setting function over two different eras, the analog and the digital media periods.