A term that refers to key personnel involved in the decision-making processes of news production. Originally the role was understood as being situated between news gatherers (journalists) and the public: editors kept the gate - opening or closing it for each story as they decided which information was news worthy. Recent adaptation of the term has seen it applied to managers of the media, as well as news wire services and owners of media channels.
The importance of gatekeeper theory rests on an understanding of the conditions under which these personnel make their decisions. While practioners understand their role as a professional one, analysts argue that gate keepers are influenced by a range of practices, and these in turn influence their decisions. They include personal ideologies and values, as well as organisational and structural procedures. While the term is usually applied to media involved in the production of news, it is possible to consider its relevance elsewhere. Film studio executives, television program - buyers and radio play-list decision makers could also be understood to be fulfilling the role traditionally set out by gatekeeper theory.
New media technologies such as digital broadcasting, pay-per-view and the internet are seen as challenging the gatekeeping role. But this may prove to be a Utopian assumption. Certainly, with the internet, search engines can be understood as digital gatekeepers. Performing the role of deciding what information is relevant to your query, search engines may not be bound by personal ideologies, yet they are a product of the structural and organisational procedures of the provider who supplies them. They may also be subject to legislation that requires them to filter information, thereby causing them to perform a gatekeeping role on behalf of the state.
Further, it is clear that there is economic value in gatekeeping: people want information checked, evaluated and edited for them by professionals. Despite the huge amount of freely available information on the Internet, many of the most popular websites are those that edit, organise and manage information on behalf of consumers; they belong to brand name media titles such as major newspapers and TV stations.
The importance of gatekeeper theory rests on an understanding of the conditions under which these personnel make their decisions. While practioners understand their role as a professional one, analysts argue that gate keepers are influenced by a range of practices, and these in turn influence their decisions. They include personal ideologies and values, as well as organisational and structural procedures. While the term is usually applied to media involved in the production of news, it is possible to consider its relevance elsewhere. Film studio executives, television program - buyers and radio play-list decision makers could also be understood to be fulfilling the role traditionally set out by gatekeeper theory.
New media technologies such as digital broadcasting, pay-per-view and the internet are seen as challenging the gatekeeping role. But this may prove to be a Utopian assumption. Certainly, with the internet, search engines can be understood as digital gatekeepers. Performing the role of deciding what information is relevant to your query, search engines may not be bound by personal ideologies, yet they are a product of the structural and organisational procedures of the provider who supplies them. They may also be subject to legislation that requires them to filter information, thereby causing them to perform a gatekeeping role on behalf of the state.
Further, it is clear that there is economic value in gatekeeping: people want information checked, evaluated and edited for them by professionals. Despite the huge amount of freely available information on the Internet, many of the most popular websites are those that edit, organise and manage information on behalf of consumers; they belong to brand name media titles such as major newspapers and TV stations.
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