ABUEVA, Isabel Diwata S.

2015-89236
Sir Dominic Paul Sy THX6
Topic: Gatekeeping Media
Definition: Gatekeeping is a process wherein media is systematically biased or filtered for
purposes such as news norms and audience interests (Soroka 2012).
Thesis Statement: Gatekeeping is an example of how communication can be biased, since people
are given selected truths, and the peoples perception of current events are thus changed, leading
them to know the truth of a situation but not the whole truth.
It misleads people into thinking that they are getting fair and accurate information from a reliable
source without the knowledge that there is a possibility of bias.

I.

Mass media functions as a source or means of communications regarding current

events, news and etc. through media technologies in order to reach an audience. It is
diverse regarding content and forms of organization which also has a variety of
activities that could affect the society (McQuail, p. 8).
A. Media can draw the masses direct attention to problems, solutions or people
in ways which supports those with power and correlatively divert attention
from rival individuals or groups. (McQuail, p. 21).
B. Media can serve as a method for persuasion and mobilization. (McQuail,

II.

p.21).
Gatekeeping is the selection between what news are to be shared and reached to an
audience and what news are kept from the audience.
A. The term gatekeeping was discovered by Kurt Lewin (Shoemaker, 1991, p.75)
He originally used the idea of gatekeeping for food selection and that a person

deciding what to eat influence the entire family. His concept of gatekeeping is
to show how extensive and possible it is for society to change.
B. David Manning White, a research assistant of Lewin, developed another
III.

theory of gatekeeping. However, this time it was now concentrated on news.

There are factors as to why gatekeeping happens.
A. Gatekeeping is defined as actions taken for criteria, guidelines and procedures
to progress by which the profession can maximize the likelihood that those
who partake in social work are capable of interacting with people in an ethical
and competent manner (Miller and Koerin, 2001, p.2).
B. Gatekeeping is arbitrated because of practical concerns such as space
limitation in news, time limitation in broadcasting and etc. This happens
because of publication deadlines and news space limitations (Fishman, 1980,
p.14).
C. Newsworthiness is another factor why gatekeeping is necessary.
D. Gatekeeping happens because the gatekeepers have different goals or

IV.

audiences to reach. In other words, there is really selection bias.

Conclusion
There is a necessity to gatekeeping and it is inescapable because there are factors
that contribute to it. It plays an important role to our society because it can influence
people. We must accept the fact that there will always be gatekeeping in mass media,
but we must also critique it in a coherent way and not be fooled with the biases of the
gatekeepers.