Which statement best describes the effect of framing in media?

• A. It shapes how the covered issues are interpreted.
• B. It determines which issues are covered.
• C. It has no impact on public opinion.
• D. It is unrelated to the content.

Answer: (A)

Framing in media is about the lens through which a story is presented—the emphasis, wording, and context used to describe an issue. That lens guides what audiences notice, what they consider important, and the conclusions they draw, shaping how the issue is understood. So the statement that framing shapes how the covered issues are interpreted is the best description. It’s not about deciding which issues get covered—that’s more about agenda setting—nor is framing unrelated to content, since it directly concerns how the content is presented and understood. For example, describing crime as a “public safety crisis” versus a “challenge of personal responsibility” shifts which aspects people focus on and which solutions they find acceptable.