Gatekeeping (communication) involves the actions of persons or organizations, known as Gatekeepers, that manage or constrain the flow of knowledge and information . The internal decision making process of relaying or withholding information from the media to the masses. Gatekeeping occurs at all levels of the media structure - from a reporter deciding which sources are chosen to include in a story to editors deciding which stories are printed, or even covered. This theory first appeared in 1947, when social psychologist Kurt Lewin published his above theory. It is still one of the most important theories taught in mass communication and journalism today.
When I was in school, we learned about our Representative government. These powerful — the rich and the elected — used to be the gatekeepers to information. Then after about 1963, when suddenly Television became the on the spot medium for news, the media took over the role of Gate Keepers. Then again in the mid 80’s when Public Relations people grabbed the title, through their access to the rich, famous and powerful.
Walter Lippmann’s social engineering vision (the elite shall lead) birthed professional journalism, so did Edward Bernays social engineering vision ("it is now possible to control...the masses according to our will without their knowing it.") birth professional PR.
One thing all these had in common was their separating the people by virtue of their "professionalism". They all believed that we were there for them to manipulate, for them to "tell" what the story was.
Today with the advent of the Internet, We The People, are the Gate Keepers to not only information, but to our country’s government. And another thing that we have learned, thanks to Howard Dean and his grassroots pioneering, is that Local Politics are just as vital to government as is The Government in Washington, DC. No longer will we be "told" what to believe, no longer will we follow like sheep. We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore.
"Take it Back: Our Party, Our Country, Our Future." By Carville and Begala. Published one year ago this month. While definitely a political partisan book, did awaken the desire of many progressives who would be considered center of the road by most pollsters, to do just that TAKE IT BACK!
When our own Party, is controlled by pro-war people like former Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Congressman Rahm Emanuel, who used our contributions to maneuver it so that, 20 of the 22 candidates in key toss-up House races in the last election were pro-war. When these same leaders of our party are blocking progress to open and public hearings about a new 9-11 investigation.
Then it becomes the duty of We The People to ask questions, to keep the pressure on our representatives in Washington, DC as well as local and state officials to do the will of the people.
But even now the voice of We The People is being corrupted as corporations and spin doctors move in and lure bloggers and writers to present the views of those in power, with "gifts" and outright bribes.
Yes, we are the New Gatekeepers, but will we stifle dissemination of information as previous gatekeepers have done? Will we succumb to the lure of elitism, some have already.
Someone said "maybe "gatekeeper" is a pejorative term and not altogether accurate, perhaps "agenda setter" is more accurate."
Therefore I say its time that We The People set the agenda, that we control the information necessary for us to make intelligent decisions and cast our votes for those who represent our views.
We Are The New Gate Keepers of Democracy!
BTW: Its We The People who are on First, and foremost in the drive to control what we read, see and hear.
Ron McBride
WeDemocrats.org
Founder & Chairman
ron@wedemocrats.org