Ethicsand Gatekeeping in The Media

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Summary

Gatekeeping refers to the control of access to goods, services, or information, often done by individuals or groups in hierarchical organizations. In the media industry, gatekeeping involves filtering information for distribution through different mediums. This practice raises ethical concerns, as gatekeepers hold significant power in deciding what the public can read, see, or hear. Rupert Murdoch, the founder and CEO of News Corporation, is an example of a gatekeeper. News Corporation was the third-largest media conglomerate in terms of revenue in 2010. However, the company faced an ethical scandal in 2011 when it was revealed that members of the News of the World staff engaged in illegal phone hacking. This scandal raised issues of credibility, privacy, trust, and freedom of speech. Murdoch received criticism for the incident, with some blaming his leadership for establishing a culture in which anything goes to get a story.

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Gatekeeping in hierarchical organizations is the act of individuals or groups controlling the accessibility to goods, services, or information (CSA). In media, gatekeeping refers to the process of filtering information for distribution via various channels such as the internet, print media, or broadcasting.

The significant influence of gatekeepers, like Rupert Murdoch who is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of News Corporation, plays a crucial role in deciding the availability of public information. This authority brings up ethical considerations and emphasizes the need to safeguard specific freedoms.

In 2010, News Corporation generated a revenue of $24.73 billion, making it the third-largest media conglomerate (Semjan & Lermann). However, the next year witnessed an ethical scandal within News Corp. as employees of one of its newspapers, the News of the World, were exposed for engaging in illegal phone hacking to gather information for their articles. This unethical practice specifically targeted approximately 4000 individuals including sports figures, politicians, and celebrities (BBC).

The scandal at News Corp. led to the paper’s publication ending on July 10th 2011, sparking concerns about ethics regarding credibility, privacy, trust, and freedom of speech. Murdoch received considerable criticism for the scandal, as a former top executive pointed out that only within Murdoch’s sphere of influence could such a scandal have taken place. The hacking at News of the World was carried out extensively, with Murdoch being seen as responsible for establishing and promoting a newsroom environment where any methods were employed to acquire a story.

References

  1. Lee, Felicia R. “Protesting Demeaning Images in Media – New York Times.” The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 05 Nov. 2007. Web. 04 Nov. 2011.
  2. Celizic, Mike. “Jersey Shore Stars: “We’re Just Being Ourselves”” TODAY.com. 2 Jan. 2010. Web. 04 Nov. 2011.
  3. McCauley, Gina. “When Did You Give Up On BET? – Reggie Hudlin Is Still Unrepentant (I’m Shocked!).” What About Our Daughters – What About Our Daughters. 13 July 2007. Web. 04 Nov. 2011. .

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