What concept prioritizes certain stories over others in media reporting?

The concept that prioritizes certain stories over others in media reporting is agenda setting. This refers to the ability of the media to influence the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda. Essentially, when media outlets choose which stories to cover and how prominently to feature them, they shape perceptions of what issues are important and deserve public attention. This process does not necessarily dictate how individuals think about these issues, but rather highlights what people should be thinking about.

By focusing on particular stories, the media can guide public discourse and influence opinions, thereby shaping societal perceptions. This is seen when major news outlets emphasize certain events, such as crime or political scandals, which may lead audiences to perceive them as more pressing or significant, even if other important issues are occurring simultaneously but receiving less coverage.

In contrast, storytelling refers to the way narratives are constructed in journalism, content creation pertains to the production of media materials, and media framing involves how stories are presented and interpreted. While these concepts are connected to media reporting, they do not specifically emphasize the act of prioritizing certain stories over others in the same way that agenda setting does.