What is the 'gatekeeping' theory in journalism? Is it still relevant in the current digital media era?

You can think of it this way: in the past, during the era of newspapers and television, so many things happened every day, but newspaper space and TV broadcast time were limited. Who decided what made it into the newspaper or onto TV, and what didn't? The person or institution making that decision was the "Gatekeeper."

Just like a doorman at a large compound, they decide who gets in and who doesn't. News editors, journalists, and chief editors were these "gatekeepers." They would filter information based on their judgment, news value, institutional stance, and even commercial interests. What ultimately appeared before you, after their screening, was the news they deemed "important" and "worth seeing." This is the traditional "gatekeeper" theory.

So, in today's digital media age, where anyone can speak up, does this theory still apply?

The answer is: it still applies, but the form and rules of the "gatekeeper" have changed.

1. The "Big Door" Seems to Have Been Removed

Previously, news dissemination channels were monopolized by a few large media outlets. Now, with platforms like Weibo, WeChat, Douyin, and Bilibili, everyone has a microphone, and everyone can be an information publisher. If you personally experience something, shoot a video, and post it online, it might immediately become a hot topic. From this perspective, the "big door" of traditional media has indeed been bypassed; ordinary people no longer need their approval to publish information.

2. New "Gatekeepers" Have Emerged

But has the gate to information truly disappeared? Not at all. It has merely transformed from "manual" guarding into more complex forms:

• Algorithms have become the new gatekeepers: When you open Toutiao or Douyin, is the content you see truly everything you actively chose? Not entirely. It's the platform's algorithm "guessing" what you like based on your clicks, dwell time, likes, and other behaviors, and then pushing it to you. Algorithms determine which content gains massive traffic and is seen by millions, and which sinks into oblivion. This recommendation algorithm is today's most important and most hidden "gatekeeper."
• Platforms themselves are super gatekeepers: Platforms like WeChat, Weibo, Google, and Apple set the rules. Whether a piece of content is "violating rules," whether it will be deleted, restricted in reach, or even whether an account will be banned, is all up to the platform. They are the "Gods" among gatekeepers.
• Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) are new nodal gatekeepers: A big V, an influencer, a UP host—they have hundreds of thousands or millions of followers. What they repost or comment on can greatly influence their followers' perceptions and the flow of information. They act as information screeners and interpreters for their fan base, representing a new type of gatekeeper.

3. We Ourselves Have Also Become Our Own "Gatekeepers"

Finally, in the ocean of information overload, each of us also has to act as our own "gatekeeper." You choose whom to follow, what information to block, and which groups to join. Over time, the world you see is likely a world carefully filtered by yourself (and algorithms), which is what we often call an "information cocoon."

In summary:

So, the "gatekeeper" theory of news is not outdated. It's just that the gatekeepers' power has been dispersed. In the past, power was concentrated in a few newsrooms; now, power is distributed among algorithms, platforms, key opinion leaders, and you and me.

The benefit of this change is more information channels, but the downside is that it's harder to distinguish truth from falsehood, and we are more easily trapped by invisible algorithms and the "information cocoons" we build ourselves. Understanding this will allow you to view the various pieces of information we encounter today with greater clarity.