The amount of information reaching people today is almost overwhelming. This flood of information from the mass media serves an agenda-setting function.’ As the media present the “news,” they also tell us what we should be thinking about. By the amount of coverage allotted to a topic, the media establish the importance of that topic in the public mind.
Informative speaking also performs an agenda-setting role. As it directs our attention to certain subjects, it influences what we feel is important. The informative speech “The ‘Monument’ at Wounded Knee,” which appears in Appendix B, demonstrates this agenda-setting function as it shapes perceptions about our country’s policy toward Native Americans. Hearing such a message could predispose listeners both to believe that the issue is important and to favor better treatment for this group. As you prepare an informative speech, remember the power you have to establish the importance of your topic in the minds of your listeners. Consider the ethical consequences of your words.

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