12. Journalism as Gatekeeping
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Edson C. Tandoc
Abstract
Gatekeeping is a popular and enduring metaphor in journalism studies. It has been conceptualized as a journalistic role, a model that describes the flow of news, and a theory that explains the process of news selection. Gatekeeping refers to the process of how bits of information pass through a series of gates and end up in the news. But aside from describing the complex process of news construction, gatekeeping is also a concept imbued with normative assumptions. Coined at a time when news audiences had a limited choice of news sources and journalists had limited space for their news outputs, gatekeeping had important implications and consequences on what pieces of information ultimately reached the public. However, the digitization of news has weakened, if not eradicated, such constraints. News audiences now actively take part in news construction and distribution, breaking journalists’ monopoly over news. Information about newsworthy events now flow through both journalists’ and audiences’ channels. This has important implications on how we understand and value gatekeeping.
Abstract
Gatekeeping is a popular and enduring metaphor in journalism studies. It has been conceptualized as a journalistic role, a model that describes the flow of news, and a theory that explains the process of news selection. Gatekeeping refers to the process of how bits of information pass through a series of gates and end up in the news. But aside from describing the complex process of news construction, gatekeeping is also a concept imbued with normative assumptions. Coined at a time when news audiences had a limited choice of news sources and journalists had limited space for their news outputs, gatekeeping had important implications and consequences on what pieces of information ultimately reached the public. However, the digitization of news has weakened, if not eradicated, such constraints. News audiences now actively take part in news construction and distribution, breaking journalists’ monopoly over news. Information about newsworthy events now flow through both journalists’ and audiences’ channels. This has important implications on how we understand and value gatekeeping.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter i
- Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Contents xi
- 1. Journalism 1
- 2. Journalism history 19
-
I Foundations of the Field
- 3. Roles of Journalists 43
- 4. Epistemologies of Journalism 63
- 5. Journalism Ethics 83
-
II. Conceptualizing the Field
- 6. Journalism as Practice 105
- 7. Journalism as Institution 125
- 8. Journalism as Public Sphere 149
- 9. Journalism as Memory 169
-
III. Theorizing the Field
- 10. Journalism as Agenda Setting 189
- 11. Journalism as Framing 205
- 12. Journalism as Gatekeeping 235
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IV. Journalism via the Disciplines
- 13. The Sociology of Journalism 257
- 14. The Economics of Journalism and News Provision 281
- 15 Politics and Policies of Journalism and Free Press 297
- 16. The Technology of Journalism 321
- 17. Journalism and Geography 335
-
V. The Journalism Ecology
- 18. Entrepreneurial Journalism 355
- 19. Mapping the Citizen News Landscape: Blurring Boundaries, Promises, Perils, and Beyond 373
- 20. Advocacy Journalism 391
- 21. Documentary Journalism 415
- 22. Lifestyle Journalism 433
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VI. The Issues of Journalism
- 23. Journalism, War, and Peace 453
- 24. Journalism, Censorship, and Press Freedom 473
- 25. Journalism, Pluralism, and Diversity 493
- 26. Journalism, Gender, and Race 511
- 27. Journalism, Audiences and Community Engagement 531
-
VII. Conclusion
- 28. Journalism and Change 555
- 29. The Future of Journalism Scholarship 575
- Biographical sketches 587
- Index 591
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter i
- Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Contents xi
- 1. Journalism 1
- 2. Journalism history 19
-
I Foundations of the Field
- 3. Roles of Journalists 43
- 4. Epistemologies of Journalism 63
- 5. Journalism Ethics 83
-
II. Conceptualizing the Field
- 6. Journalism as Practice 105
- 7. Journalism as Institution 125
- 8. Journalism as Public Sphere 149
- 9. Journalism as Memory 169
-
III. Theorizing the Field
- 10. Journalism as Agenda Setting 189
- 11. Journalism as Framing 205
- 12. Journalism as Gatekeeping 235
-
IV. Journalism via the Disciplines
- 13. The Sociology of Journalism 257
- 14. The Economics of Journalism and News Provision 281
- 15 Politics and Policies of Journalism and Free Press 297
- 16. The Technology of Journalism 321
- 17. Journalism and Geography 335
-
V. The Journalism Ecology
- 18. Entrepreneurial Journalism 355
- 19. Mapping the Citizen News Landscape: Blurring Boundaries, Promises, Perils, and Beyond 373
- 20. Advocacy Journalism 391
- 21. Documentary Journalism 415
- 22. Lifestyle Journalism 433
-
VI. The Issues of Journalism
- 23. Journalism, War, and Peace 453
- 24. Journalism, Censorship, and Press Freedom 473
- 25. Journalism, Pluralism, and Diversity 493
- 26. Journalism, Gender, and Race 511
- 27. Journalism, Audiences and Community Engagement 531
-
VII. Conclusion
- 28. Journalism and Change 555
- 29. The Future of Journalism Scholarship 575
- Biographical sketches 587
- Index 591
