Gatekeepers as Safekeepers—Mapping Audiences’ Attitudes towards News Media’s Editorial Oversight Functions during the COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract

This study investigates people’s attitudes towards news media’s role as gatekeepers during the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, this concerns news media’s quality control and the selection of the most important news about the pandemic, as well as the provision of useful information and knowledge about the virus and its implications. Challenging research that has questioned the very idea of journalistic gatekeeping in hybrid media systems, we set out to explore people’s attitudes towards news media’s gatekeeper functions during a crisis, when the need for reliable and relevant information is extraordinarily high and the information environment is flooded with disinformation. In this situation, news media gatekeepers could serve as safekeepers that protect the population. Based on a national survey in Norway (N = 1024), a country characterized by high levels of trust in social institutions, including the national press, the study finds that people were generally supportive of news media’s gatekeeper functions amid the pandemic. However, there were noteworthy demographic differences. Older people, women, and those who were more highly educated showed more positive attitudes towards news media’s gatekeeping. Moreover, we found lower support for news media’s gatekeeping in the group who trusted alternative, right-wing news media.

Communication inequalities in the COVID-19 pandemic: socioeconomic differences and preventive behaviors in the United States and South Korea

“…One explanation for this finding is that news media might serve as gatekeepers to protect the population against the global infodemic which hampers efforts to contain the pandemic. News media can also contribute directly to citizens’ intention to engage in self-protection and enhance safety by debunking fake news and by providing trustworthy information and data regarding the virus [ 46 ]. Moreover, they can improve the efficiency of the governments’ pandemic response efforts [ 47 ].…”

How Social Media, News Media and Interpersonal Communication Relate to Covid-19 Risk Perceptions and Behaviours

“…Fifth, the study's sample consisted of 18 to 25-year-old individuals, making the results not generalisable to other demographic groups (e.g., older participants). Furthermore, this sample consisted of highly educated individuals who are more sceptical toward information provided by mainstream media compared to more scientific sources (Latkin et al, 2020;Olsen et al, 2022) and exhibit more knowledge about the virus, which makes them more resilient against misinformation online (Rattay et al, 2021). Future studies should try to recruit a more diverse sample and examine how different types of media exposure differently relate to risk perceptions and protective health behaviour among other age groups and high-versus loweducated individuals.…”

Reimagining the Role of General Practitioners as Gatekeepers in South African Healthcare- A Review Focusing on Medical Schemes

“…However, there has been a growing recognition that the traditional gatekeeping model may have limitations and potential drawbacks [7][8]. Critics argue that strict gatekeeping can lead to delays in accessing necessary care, particularly for patients with urgent or complex conditions [4,9].…”