Police Social Media and Broadcast News

An Investigation into the Impact of Police Use of Facebook on Journalists’ Gatekeeping Role

Bibliographic Data

ID7498482
AuthorsJennifer Grygiel (0000-0003-2297-5282, Syracuse University, corresponding author), Suzanne Lysak (0000-0002-2619-2800, Chapman University)
Year2020
Volume15
Issue7
Pages994-1011
Publication date2020-05-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1751-2786 • E-ISSN: 1751-2794
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17512786.2020.1759123
OpenAlexW3021637273
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited44

This qualitative study sought to understand how journalists’ gatekeeping role, routines, and practices of communication work have been impacted by police use of social media such as Facebook. Semi-structured topical interviews were conducted with eleven broadcast newsroom staff. Overall, findings suggest that police use of Facebook has made newsroom routines easier in many cases, but it is also leading journalists away from gatekeeping and towards passivity and curation. In addition, findings suggest social media use by official sources is shifting gatekeeping power from journalists to police as departments are now able to gatecrash and circumvent the press

Gatekeeping · Internet privacy · Journalism · Media studies · Political science · Power (physics · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social media · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Media Studies and Communication · Public Relations and Crisis Communication · Social Media and Politics · Law

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