Gatekeeping

gatekeepers - attempt to direct/limit/expand the flow of information

some terms:

censorship - prior restraint by the government

self-censorship/self-regulation/exercising First Amendment rights -

non-governmental gatekeeping

1. Content source

withholding

releasing

timing

outlet

only source?

2. Consumers/Interest groups

vote with time, money

use pressure - letters, boycotts etc.

3. Advertisers

demographic issues

content issues

4. Within media

editorial function

professional standards

industry level, organizational level, personal level

bias

agenda setting

5. Government

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press

no law - is the First Amendment absolute?

if not, what does it mean for:

a. speech

differing levels of protection

political/religious speech

private - commercial speech

unprotected or limited protection speech

national security

public safety

defamation

obscenity

copyright

b. the press

not all mediums are treated equally

print

cable

broadcast (radio, TV)

public interest

where does the Internet fit?

Gatekeepers can work in conjuction with each other or in opposition to each other

Gatekeepers meet with various degrees of success

Some gatekeepers are more powerful than others