Mass Communication and Journalism: Media Analysis and Criticism - Gatekeeping Theory Shoemaker Vos Who decides what becomes news

What It Is

Gatekeeping theory, developed by Pamela Shoemaker and Stephen D. Reese, explains how news organizations and journalists select and prioritize news stories for publication. A canonical example is the 1970s study by Shoemaker and Reese, which found that journalists in a small town in the United States used their professional judgment and social connections to decide which stories to cover, often favoring those that were local, timely, and relevant to their audience. This matters for media analysis because understanding gatekeeping helps explain why certain stories are covered while others are ignored, and how journalists' decisions shape public discourse.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Gatekeeping: The process by which news organizations and journalists select and prioritize news stories for publication.
• Gatekeepers: Journalists and news editors who decide which stories to cover and how to present them.
• News values: The criteria used by journalists to evaluate the newsworthiness of a story, such as timeliness, proximity, and human interest.
• Professional judgment: The ability of journalists to make decisions about what stories to cover based on their expertise and experience.
• Social connections: The relationships and networks that journalists use to gather information and decide which stories to cover.
• Agenda-setting theory: The idea that the media can influence public opinion by deciding which issues to cover and how to present them.
• Shoemaker and Reese's study: A 1970s study that found that journalists in a small town in the United States used their professional judgment and social connections to decide which stories to cover.
• Newsroom culture: The norms and values that shape the way journalists work and make decisions about what stories to cover.
• Journalistic objectivity: The ideal of journalism to present a balanced and impartial view of the news.
• Media bias: The idea that the media can have a biased or slanted perspective on the news.
• News framing: The way in which the media presents a story, including the language and imagery used.
• Gatekeeping theory's limitations: The theory has been criticized for being too narrow and not accounting for other factors that influence news selection, such as economic and technological constraints.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Gatekeeping theory only applies to large news organizations.
• Correction: Gatekeeping theory can apply to any news organization, regardless of its size or resources.
• Misunderstanding: Gatekeeping theory is only about selecting news stories, not about presenting them.
• Correction: Gatekeeping theory encompasses both the selection and presentation of news stories.
• Misunderstanding: Gatekeeping theory is a fixed and universal concept that applies to all cultures and societies.
• Correction: Gatekeeping theory is a Western concept that may not apply to non-Western cultures and societies.

Quick Application / Identification

Scenario: A local newspaper editor decides to cover a story about a new restaurant opening in town, but not a story about a local resident who has been struggling to find employment. What is the likely reason for this decision?

Answer: The editor is using their professional judgment and news values to decide which story is more newsworthy.

Explanation: This decision is an example of gatekeeping in action, where the editor is using their expertise and experience to evaluate the newsworthiness of the two stories.

Last?Minute Revision

• Shoemaker and Reese's study was conducted in the 1970s.
• Gatekeeping theory was developed by Pamela Shoemaker and Stephen D. Reese.
• News values include timeliness, proximity, and human interest.
• Journalistic objectivity is the ideal of presenting a balanced and impartial view of the news.
• Media bias refers to the idea that the media can have a biased or slanted perspective on the news.
• News framing refers to the way in which the media presents a story.
• Gatekeeping theory has been criticized for being too narrow and not accounting for other factors that influence news selection.
• The inverted pyramid structure is a common way to present news stories.
• The hourglass structure is a less common way to present news stories.
• Libel is a type of defamation that occurs in writing or print.
• Slander is a type of defamation that occurs through spoken words.
• Propaganda is a form of communication that is intended to influence people's attitudes or behaviors.
• Persuasion is a form of communication that is intended to convince people of a particular point of view.