Editing Development communication (section)

== Agenda setting ==
Agenda setting is an important topic in the Development Communication and policy sciences because it sets problems and issues into policies. It sets the tone of how policies are crafted, based on the needs of the public.  Equally important in this discussion is understanding the Agenda Setting Process by which problems and alternative solutions gain or lose public and elite attention (Birkland, 2011).  It is in this area where individuals take collective action and vie for attention.  According to Schattschneider (1960), groups that successfully describe a problem will also be the one to define the solutions to it, thereby prevailing in public debate.

Another idea offered by Schattschneider is the Theory of Group Mobilization & Participation in Agenda Setting wherein the issues are more likely to be elevated to agenda status if the scope of conflict is broadened.  There are 2 ways to broaden an issue:
# Groups go public by using symbols and images or;
# Groups to lose the first level of public interest appeal to a higher decision-making level.
When powerful groups lose control of the agenda, they are said to enter into policy debates to gain attention (Baumgartner & Jones), while other groups do venue shopping and ally with those who are able to advance their issues.<ref name="Birkland">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=giw8dRLqX74C|title=An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, and Models of Public Policy Making|last=Birkland|first=Thomas A.|date=2010-01-01|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=978-0-7656-2731-5|language=en}}</ref>

'''Levels of Agenda'''<ref name="Birkland"/>

From the vast field of issues (Agenda Universe), groups push issues meriting public attention "within the legitimate jurisdiction of existing governmental authority" (Birkland, quoting Cobb and Elder), moving to the next level (Systemic Agenda).  Ideas that gain active and serious consideration of decision/policy makers go the next level (Institutional Agenda).  If acted upon, it reaches Decision Agenda—the last level in the policy making process.  Within these levels there are push and pull actions that happen between and among interest groups in order to pursue or challenge such initiatives.

'''Process of Policy Development (also Stages of the Policy Cycle)'''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Handbook of Public Policy Analysis|url=https://archive.org/details/handbookpublicpo00fisc|url-access=registration|last=Fischer|first=Frank|publisher=CSC Press|year=2007|isbn= 978-1-57444-561-9|location=Boca Raton, FL|pages=[https://archive.org/details/handbookpublicpo00fisc/page/n98 72]–82}}</ref>

It includes the following activities that sets off creation of policies:
# Issue Framing – which is a technique of getting the issues on the policy maker's agenda so that a problem is recognized and debated.
# Agenda setting as already discussed in previous paragraphs.
# Policy Formulation wherein proposed actions are articulated, debated and drafter into language.
# Advocacy & policy dialogue which will involve and mobilize stakeholders and the public, and
# Data analysis which focuses on political costs and benefits.