Weaver, David H. (1947–)

David H. Weaver is primarily known for his theoretical work on media agenda setting and his landmark studies of American journalists. Weaver's most significant [Page 828]contribution to the original agenda-setting hypothesis is the psychological concept of need for orientation, which he developed with Maxwell E. McCombs in the 1970s. The need for orientation explains how political interest and uncertainty influence people's tendency to seek information about political issues in the news media. Weaver's representative survey studies of American journalists conducted in 1982, 1992, and 2002 provide exclusive insights into the changing demographic and educational backgrounds, working conditions, and professional and ethical norms that have characterized journalists in the United States during the past 3 decades. His coauthored book The American Journalist in the 21st Century ...