What is gatekeeping in news media?

• A. The process editors and journalists decide which events get covered and how
• B. The public decides what is covered
• C. Government censors decides all coverage
• D. News coverage is random

Answer: (A)

Gatekeeping in news media is the process by which editors and journalists decide which events to cover and how to present them. This filtering happens as stories are evaluated for newsworthiness, assigned to reporters, and shaped through decisions about emphasis, placement, and framing. News values like timeliness, significance, proximity, conflict, and human interest, along with practical limits of time and space, guide these choices. Because of this deliberate selection, some events receive prominent coverage while others are overlooked, which helps shape what the public perceives as important. It’s not driven by public opinion, government censorship, or randomness; it’s a professional filtering process that determines the news agenda.