Exploring the Relationship Between Televised Presidential Debate and Twitter: A Network Analysis of Intermedia Agenda Setting

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the dynamics of network intermedia agenda-setting (IAS) between televised presidential debate and Twitter, focusing on the 10th Democratic Party Presidential Primary Debate of 2020 and corresponding Twitter discussions. By utilizing a social network analysis, this study uncovers the prioritized issues and sub-issues, as well as the networked relationship between the televised debate and Twitter discussions. The results suggest that certain sub-issues are more salient than main issues in both networks, emphasizing the need to consider detailed discussions alongside overarching issues. A positive, but weak, correlation between the televised debate and Twitter discussion was found. The theoretical, methodological, and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Issues
• sub-issues
• network intermedia agenda-setting
• social network analysis

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zahedur Rahman Arman

Zahedur Rahman Arman is Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication and Social Media in the Department of Communication, Media, and Performance at Framingham State University.

Scott McClurg

Scott McClurg is a Professor of Political Communication in the School of Journalism at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.