Gatekeeping theory research essay

Gatekeeping Theory Name Institution Course Code and Title Instructor Date Gatekeeping Theory in Media The evolution of media has led to changes in processing, delivery, and access to information. However, social media is disrupting the role of traditional media due to access of information on real-time basis from social media users. Limited regulation of social media content exposes audiences to harmful, incorrect, and biased information, making traditional media a reliable news source. Gatekeeping influences media processes by giving editors the role of determining information released by media houses. Gatekeeping in media allows media houses to control information delivered to its audience to control the impact of the information on society. However, gatekeeping faces criticism from different stakeholders due to censorship or control of information. Social media allows audiences to engage with journalists, challenging the monopoly of media practitioners’ gatekeeping powers. Audiences criticize information from media houses, suggesting the type of content suitable for public news. Gatekeepers preference or bias may prevent access of vital information to achieve a predetermined goal. Therefore, media practitioners need to change gatekeeping practices to accommodate information from digital media. Gatekeeping Theory Gatekeeping theory is media is one of the theories that influences media regulation. Kurt Lewin developed the gatekeeping concept to understand how human behaviour is based on the type of information consumed. Gatekeeping in media involves selecting and filtering information made available to target consumers within the time available for the information to be released (Nairui, 2022). This theory gives media houses a surveillance and monitoring role to prevent undesirable impacts by releasing information that violates media rules. The theory aims to create uniformity and order in the collection, processing, and release of information (Steele, 2018). The theory requires media houses or personalities to release relevant, factual, and informative information. The theory intended to curb the misuse of media or journalists to collect and release information to the public without assessing its value or impact (Akpan, 2023). The gatekeeping role is assigned to experienced journalists or editors who understand the code of conduct in media. In addition, gatekeepers make decisions about the type of content made available to their audience (Nairui, 2022). Gatekeepers decide the type of data released to consumers based on their professional knowledge, social influence, bias, or preference. However, in some situations, external forces outside the media house influence the type of information released to the audience. The gatekeeping theory aims to prevent the misuse of gatekeeping to benefit or disadvantage a specific group. In addition, gatekeeping aims to protect consumers from harmful information. The gatekeeping theory gained relevance in media, influencing regulators to develop standard policies that guide gatekeepers on the type of content made available to consumers (Akpan, 2023). Gatekeepers remove unwanted, controversial, unverifiable, and harmful information while maintaining relevant, factual, and informative content (Steele, 2018). Editors, who are the gatekeepers in media, receive information from multiple sources and journalists, requiring them to reduce the quantity and provide the most impactful information. Media houses have internal policies that ensure editors do not misuse gatekeeping powers to achieve a predetermined impact for personal benefits. Gatekeepers provide reports explaining the logic for removing some information for oversight by other media stakeholders. Therefore, gatekeeping theory is critical because it prioritizes the benefits of media to consumers while preventing or reducing harmful information. Summary of Recent Journal Salonen et al. (2022) research focuses on the conversational gatekeeping practices on newspapers’ Facebook pages. This article focuses on the emerging trend of newspaper gatekeeping a...