Any form of communication is a cultural
construction. Today, there are more than 350 agenda
setting studies, few examining non-Western cultures.
These studies are based on contingent factors that
are in most cases unique to Western societies. Cross-
cultural studies rarely try and adapt the theory to
the cultural, political and social variations
present in different societies. In turn this might
lead researchers to incorrect conclusions. The idea
that news networks do set the agenda in politics and
diplomacy is not a new one. However, some networks
have greater influence than others. CNN is one of
those networks that has risen to global prominence
because of its coverage of the first Gulf War hence
the CNN effect. Today scholars claim that Al-Jazeera
yields the same influence in the Arab/Islamic world.
Therefore, it is appropriate to say that there is an
Al-Jazeera effect. However, this claim does not rest
on any empirical data. This study examines the
agenda setting role Al-Jazeera plays in the
Arab/Islamic world. This research also looks at the
contingent factors for agenda setting theory in the
Arab/Islamic world.
construction. Today, there are more than 350 agenda
setting studies, few examining non-Western cultures.
These studies are based on contingent factors that
are in most cases unique to Western societies. Cross-
cultural studies rarely try and adapt the theory to
the cultural, political and social variations
present in different societies. In turn this might
lead researchers to incorrect conclusions. The idea
that news networks do set the agenda in politics and
diplomacy is not a new one. However, some networks
have greater influence than others. CNN is one of
those networks that has risen to global prominence
because of its coverage of the first Gulf War hence
the CNN effect. Today scholars claim that Al-Jazeera
yields the same influence in the Arab/Islamic world.
Therefore, it is appropriate to say that there is an
Al-Jazeera effect. However, this claim does not rest
on any empirical data. This study examines the
agenda setting role Al-Jazeera plays in the
Arab/Islamic world. This research also looks at the
contingent factors for agenda setting theory in the
Arab/Islamic world.