The gatekeepers of news are responsible for what information the public is exposed to. Either these gatekeepers can be somewhat a form of censorship, limiting the public’s access to information on a certain topic, or provide coverage on an issue in depth so that the truth can be revealed for the public good. These gatekeepers possess powerful positions in society as they control the exchange of information and knowledge on issues which impact the public.
Investigative reporting is a type of gatekeeping which focuses on exposing the truth about a specific topic. Each detail and fact is examined and really demands a reporter to investigate, dig deep, into an issue. So how informative are investigative reports? Compared to thirty second clips that cover daily events, investigative reporting helps analyze unique stories which effected history or culture in some way, needing further explanation. The television show, 20/20, is famous for choosing topics that the public might not be aware of and could benefit from. On January 14th, 20/20 aired a show that discussed if women in the Peace Corps were facing dangerous situations. Underground issues, such as this example, can be shared with the public in response to gatekeepers, who therefore are a necessity in communication.
No comments:
Post a Comment