Maxwell McCombs' work on the agenda-setting role of mass media illustrates how frequently covered information is perceived as important by the public, citing the influence of media on public opinion. The document discusses different types of agenda-setting, including public, media, and policy, highlighting their interplay and importance in events like the Indian elections of 2014 and 2015. It contrasts traditional theories of media influence with the uses and gratifications approach, which views media as serving individual needs rather than exerting power.