Agendas

In journalism, there is such a thing as an 'agenda'.  Unlike the normal definition of an agenda, an journalism agenda basically means that a journalist would focus on a story or angle that is more likely to be sold or read.  If a story isn't relevant to something recent, most people aren't going to read it.  However, if a journalist wrote a story about something that happened the day before, more people are going to pay attention to the story.  This also works with content.  When the new Pope was elected, any story that didn't mention the Pope wouldn't have sold as well as ones that did.

With this in mind, consider today's news.  How many stories go unnoticed because of more relevant articles? What important issues have been pushed to the back, only to be overshadowed by a famous pregnancy or a television series drama?  Agenda setting is a real issue, even though most people don't realise.

In a poll, it is more likely that you are going to find people who would rather find out what's going on in Kate and Will's life than in the life of people starving in Africa.  It gives them a taste of knowing the 'issues' of the world.  They feel famous; wanted; important.  When learning about the less-fortunate, they feel sad and useless.  They can't do much to change most of the problems, so they feel helpless.  It's such a contrast.

Agendas tend to highlight the more important stories and shadow those not classified as sellers.  It's up to the journalist to define the sellers and separate them from the rest.