The evaluation of governmental micro blogs' function of agenda setting in coping with online public opinions

The agenda setting function of governmental micro blogs is embodied in their ability to aggregate information and guide public opinions. This paper analyzes the current level and problems of agenda setting of governmental micro blogs through the case of the “PS Photo Gate” event happened in Huili, Sichuan Province. The paper analyzes governmental micro blogs' ability to aggregate information through data collection and comparative study. It also makes quantitative assessment of governmental micro blogs' ability to guide public opinions. On the basis of such analyses, this paper also puts forward suggestions as to the ways governmental micro blogs can take to deal with online public opinions and remedy governments' behaviors as well as the development direction of governmental micro blogs.