Unpacking the Nuances of Agenda-Setting in the Online Media Environment: An Hourly-Event Approach in the Context of Chinese Economic News

The study of agenda-setting has faced considerable challenges in the digital age. Not only are the existing conceptualizations inadequate regarding the new features of online media outlets, but traditional analysis has also become insufficient to address the nuances of agenda-setting in the dynamic online media environment. In this study, we refined assumptions of reverse and intermedia agenda-setting theory, introduced the news events and hourly intervals approach, and considered economic news events in China as an appropriate theme. Our analysis showed that the few popular media played a gatekeeping role in the Chinese online media environment, and the average time interval in which agendas transferred across media and netizens was about 4 h. This study, thereby, advanced the understanding of agenda-setting dynamics in the digital society and showed directions for future agenda-setting research in terms of establishing more up-to-date conceptual assumptions and employing more nuanced methodological approaches.