What is gatekeeping in the newsroom context?

• A. The editorial process that decides which stories are published and how they are framed.
• B. A method to increase revenue from stories.
• C. A system for archiving old articles.
• D. A procedure for hiring editors.

Answer: (A)

Gatekeeping in journalism is the editorial filter that decides which stories get published and how they are presented to the audience. Editors evaluate newsworthiness, relevance, accuracy, and potential impact, then determine the angle, emphasis, and presentation—phrasing, headlines, and placement—that shape how the story is perceived. This control over what information reaches the public and how it is framed is what gatekeeping describes in the newsroom. It’s not about revenue, archiving, or hiring, which are separate newsroom functions.