Audience Gatekeeping Via Social Media

Abstract

Using networked gatekeeping theory, this study analyzes how social media is being integrated into morning news programming, allowing audience members an opportunity to play a role in the gatekeeping process. Traditional gatekeeping, along with the shift to networked gatekeeping, the levels of gatekeeping, and gatekeeping through social media is discussed. A content analysis of morning news programming found lower levels of social media integration than predicted and more discussions of specific posts than any other types of social media references. Social media references were also more specific to certain types of news segments. Implications for the future of networked gatekeeping as well as future research are also discussed.