Journalism, Gatekeeping, and Interactivity
Thurman, N. (2015). Journalism, Gatekeeping, and Interactivity. In: S. Coleman & D. Freelon (Eds.), A Handbook of Digital Politics. (pp. 357-374). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. ISBN 9781782548751
25 Pages Posted: 15 Jul 2015
Date Written: May 14, 2015
Abstract
Gate-keeping is one of the most inclusive research traditions in the field of journalism studies. In its investigations into the processes “by which the vast array of potential news messages are winnowed, shaped, and prodded into these few that are actually transmitted by news media (Shoemaker et al., 2001: 233) it accommodates political and economic influences — as well as organizational routines and practices; the influence of the audience, outside sources, and technology; and journalists’ individual characteristics and collective professional values. However, changes in how technology and the audience — individually and collectively — are taking on journalistic gate-keeping functions; how established gate-keeping routines have changed in response to information from the public and about their news consumption behaviour; and some of the political and economic influences on gate-keeping in the online news environment have not, yet, been fully reflected in the academic literature.
In this chapter I will discuss these technological and social influences on journalistic gatekeeping by reflecting on my own research in these areas over the last decade or so. The chapter begins with a review of the literature on gatekeeping as it applies to journalism. I will then use the concepts of ‘adaptive’ and ‘conversational’ interactivity to frame the discussions that follow on how technology and the audience are impacting journalistic gatekeeping. The chapter concludes with a discussion of some of the consequences of the full spectrum of forces — political and economic, as well as social and technological — acting on contemporary, mainstream news producers; as well as some suggestions for how they may better accommodate to those forces. Finally I give some suggestions for future research in these areas.
Keywords: gatekeeping, journalism, interactivity
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