In 2008, Maxime Bernier, the star of Stephen Harper's Quebec caucus, was forced to resign as foreign affairs minister after admitting he had left classified government documents at the home of his then-girlfriend, Julie Couillard, a woman who had previously dated two Hell's Angel's associates. Shortly after they broke up, Couillard gave a tell-all television interview about the relationship, which she followed up with a book. The intense media attention brought about public condemnation. Which theory best describes the media's role in this excerpt?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The media's role in this scenario is best described by the agenda-setting theory, which suggests that the media doesn't tell us what to think, but it is very good at telling us what to think about. In this case, the intense media attention on Maxime Bernier's relationship and the subsequent scandal influenced public focus and condemnation, demonstrating the media's power to prioritize issues and shape public discourse.

In 2008, Maxime Bernier, the Star of Stephen Harper's Quebec