<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Essay in political science, C-level, by Patrik Larsson, autumn semester 2007.</strong></p><p><strong>Tutor: Susan Marton</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>The battle over the agenda-</strong></p><p><strong>Can media be regarded as an individual political actor?</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The purpose of this essay is to study to what extent media can be regarded to function as an individual political actor. In other words, do the media have more power over the political agenda than the politicians and do the media influence how the politicians make their decisions.</p><p> </p><p>This research is a case study and to be able to complete the intention of this study I have used Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaws theory, the agenda-setting theory. From this theory I have used four aspects to analyse my material which has consisted of editorials from a Swedish newspaper, interpellations and debates that belong to the interpellations. The aspect I have worked with are, <em>how the problem is defined, who is responsible for the problem, what values and which solutions are expressed</em>.  I have used a qualitative text analysis as my methodological approach which means that the results of my study are my interpretation of the material.</p><p> </p><p>My conclusions are that the media in this case shouldn’t be regarded as an individual political actor because there is no tendency that shows that the media has influenced the government in their decisions concerning the real-estate tax. This means that the media doesn’t have more power over the political agenda. There are tendencies that show a connection between the media and the opposition, so there is possibility that the media can influence the political agenda by making the questions appear on the political agenda which means that the media have the power to influence the political agenda rather than the power over it.</p>

Abstract   Essay in political science, C-level, by Patrik Larsson, autumn semester 2007. Tutor: Susan Marton   The battle over the agenda- Can media be regarded as an individual political actor?   The purpose of this essay is to study to what extent media can be regarded to function as an individual political actor. In other words, do the media have more power over the political agenda than the politicians and do the media influence how the politicians make their decisions.   This research is a case study and to be able to complete the intention of this study I have used Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaws theory, the agenda-setting theory. From this theory I have used four aspects to analyse my material which has consisted of editorials from a Swedish newspaper, interpellations and debates that belong to the interpellations. The aspect I have worked with are, how the problem is defined, who is responsible for the problem, what values and which solutions are expressed.  I have used a qualitative text analysis as my methodological approach which means that the results of my study are my interpretation of the material.   My conclusions are that the media in this case shouldn’t be regarded as an individual political actor because there is no tendency that shows that the media has influenced the government in their decisions concerning the real-estate tax. This means that the media doesn’t have more power over the political agenda. There are tendencies that show a connection between the media and the opposition, so there is possibility that the media can influence the political agenda by making the questions appear on the political agenda which means that the media have the power to influence the political agenda rather than the power over it.