Communicator and Gatekeeping Theory

A complete set of practice flashcards covering the concepts of the communicator, gatekeeper theory by Kurt Lewin, and the impact of new media on traditional communication chains.

Why is studying the communicator considered highly important in media studies?

Because studying the communicator is no less important than studying the content of the media message itself.

How are studies of the communicator usually conducted?

Within the framework of analyzing media outlets as institutions with a social function and the conditions affecting the selection of specific content.

Who is the 'Gatekeeper' according to the transcript?

Those responsible for the media outlet who control the published content and have the authority to edit or pass the message.

What are the five communication skills identified by David Berlo for a communicator?

Writing, speaking, reading, listening, and the ability to think rationally to determine communication goals.

How do a communicator's attitudes affect their effectiveness?

Positive attitudes toward oneself, the topic, and the receiver increase the communicator's effectiveness.

How does the communicator's level of knowledge and specialization affect them?

It increases their effectiveness in treating the subject matter.

How does the communicator's status within the social and cultural system affect communication?

The roles they perform and the way people perceive them influence the effectiveness of communication.

What are the three factors identified by Alexis Tan that make a communicator influential in persuading the audience?

Credibility, Attraction, and Authority (Influence).

Who is credited with developing what became known as the Gatekeeper theory in $1977$?

The Austrian-born American psychologist Kurt Lewin.

How did Kurt Lewin describe the journey of media material?

A journey with points (gates) where decisions are made regarding what enters and what exits.

What happens as the stages of news delivery lengthen according to Lewin?

The number of locations increases where individuals have the authority to decide if the message will pass as is or with modifications.

What was the focus of the series of studies conducted in the $1950$s regarding gatekeeping?

Newsroom control methods, the conflicting perceptions of roles, and the values affecting news selection.

What is the definition of the 'Gatekeeping' concept?

Controlling a strategic location in the communication chain, giving the gatekeeper power to decide what passes to the target audience.

Into which four basic categories does the transcript divide the factors affecting the gatekeeper?

Society's values and traditions, Personal criteria, Professional criteria, and Audience criteria.

According to Waren Breed, why might a communicator not provide full coverage of events?

Due to a sense of social responsibility and the desire to maintain individual or societal virtues.

What specific cultural patterns do media outlets often seek to protect?

Capitalism, patriotism, respect for religious figures/judges, and honoring the elderly, leaders, and military personnel.

What are some examples of 'Personal Criteria' (Subjective Standards) that play a role in gatekeeping?

Gender, age, income, social class, education, ideology, and self-esteem ($Self Esteem$).

What are 'Reference Groups' in the context of the communicator?

Groups (educational, political, etc.) whose values and standards an individual adopts when making decisions or behaving.

What internal factors influence an institution's media policy?

Ownership patterns, control methods, administrative systems, and production pressures.

Why do journalists often submit to the publisher's or owner's policy?

Fear of punishment (such as reassignment or dismissal) rather than the punishment itself.

Why might a journalist feel a sense of obligation to a media outlet?

Because it provided them with work, or out of gratitude toward editors who trained them.

How do professional aspirations affect a journalist's compliance with policy?

They may view the job as a bridge to more profitable fields like Public Relations or Advertising.

How does news competition affect the pursuit of neutrality?

Journalists focus on getting the news and achieving a 'scoop' as a primary value rather than neutrality.

How do news agencies influence media outlets indirectly?

By providing the 'model' that editors follow and directing attention to specific news items.

What is a 'Pure Group' in the context of work relationships?

A primary group formed by colleagues that creates a social dimension and provides moral support for the journalist.

What does 'Job Satisfaction' ($Job Satisfaction$) affect in a communicator?

Motivation and achievement.

What did Ithiel de Sola Pool and Shulman observe about the relationship between audience and communicator?

The audience affects the communicator just as the communicator affects the audience.

What did Raymond Bauer's studies show regarding the audience?

The type of audience a communicator believes they are addressing significantly affects how content is selected and organized.

What is a key technological change in the 'New Media' environment?

Direct paths for messages to travel between sender and audience without passing through a hierarchical institutional intermediary.

How has the 'Audience' ring changed in the digital environment?

The audience now participates widely in producing messages and performs the gatekeeping role themselves.