Final answer:
Gatekeeping in the press refers to the control exerted by media organizations over which news stories are published or broadcasted. It plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse and influencing the information that reaches the audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gatekeeping, in terms of the press, refers to the control exerted by media organizations over which news stories are published or broadcasted. It involves deciding which stories are newsworthy and how they should be presented to the public. The gatekeepers, such as editors and journalists, play a crucial role in shaping public discourse and influencing the information that reaches the audience.
The process of gatekeeping allows media organizations to select and filter news stories based on various factors such as relevance, audience appeal, and alignment with the media outlet's agenda or bias. This control over news coverage can impact the public's understanding of current events and influence public opinion on important issues. Gatekeeping has traditionally been more prominent in traditional forms of media, but with the rise of new media platforms, such as social media, the gatekeeper role has become less centralized.