• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.18
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• pp.99-130
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• 2002

This study examines whether cyberspace produced by computer mediated communication(CMC) would perform the public sphere through the agenda-setting process. By doing this, this study focused on how the cyberspace agenda is set and on how the characteristics of cyberspace and the mass media influence the cyberspace agenda-setting process. Through this study, the possibility of cyberspace as the public sphere is found although the characteristics of cyberspace decide this possibility. In particular, in order for cyberspace to contribute to enhancing democracy as a form of alternative media, the interaction among cyberspace, mass media and the off-line arena is a necessary condition. The interaction between cyberspace and mass media regarding the Sungsoo Women's Middle School violence case provides two very important points. First, cyberspace helps the individual agenda to be adopted by mass media as the media agenda. Second, mass media confirmed the credibility of cyberspace agenda through reporting. In addition, this study reveals that cyberspace would perform as the public sphere only when the interaction between on-line and off-line is provided.