How does the media set the agenda for policy-making?

media agenda setting-media agenda setting addresses the factors that influence media coverage of certain issues over others

explanation:

the policy agenda is greatly influenced by the news media. by choosing what issue to cover, the news media affects which issues the voters think are important, which, in turn, influences policy agenda. for instance, the media's heavy coverage of the current immigration debates has caused this to be one of the top priorities on the government's policy agenda.

uncle sam would be tossing and turning in his grave : *)

your mothers brothers brother in law would be your father.