1. Gateway or Gatekeeper:Gateway or Gatekeeper:
The institutionalization of onlineThe institutionalization of online
news in creating an alterednews in creating an altered
technological authoritytechnological authority
Sue RobinsonSue Robinson
Temple UniversityTemple University
April 2006April 2006

2. Research QuestionsResearch Questions
Is Internet technology underminingIs Internet technology undermining
journalistic institutional authority?journalistic institutional authority?
How do online editors conceive of theirHow do online editors conceive of their
mission?mission?
How have news routines such as storyHow have news routines such as story
conception and editing changed becauseconception and editing changed because
of Internet?of Internet?
What roles are sources/audience meant toWhat roles are sources/audience meant to
play?play?

3. A DefinitionA Definition
Characteristics of an institution include:Characteristics of an institution include:
“taken for granted social patterns of“taken for granted social patterns of
behavior valued in and of themselves asbehavior valued in and of themselves as
procedures, routines, and assumptions,procedures, routines, and assumptions,
which extend over space andwhich extend over space and
endure over time, in order toendure over time, in order to
preside over a societal sector”preside over a societal sector”
Cook (1998)Cook (1998)

4. A Pilot StudyA Pilot Study
14 editors from 10 publications14 editors from 10 publications
(NYTimes.com, Washingtonpost.com,(NYTimes.com, Washingtonpost.com,
Miamiherald.com, USAToday.com etc.)Miamiherald.com, USAToday.com etc.)
In-depth interviews, Q/A in media, Web site:In-depth interviews, Q/A in media, Web site:
- Mission (an institution’s “assumptions”)- Mission (an institution’s “assumptions”)
- Process for publication (“procedures- Process for publication (“procedures
and routines”)and routines”)
- Relationships (institution’s ability to- Relationships (institution’s ability to
“preside over a societal sector”)“preside over a societal sector”)

5. MissionMission
(“Assumptions”)(“Assumptions”)
Meant to “supplement” the newspaperMeant to “supplement” the newspaper
An “authoritative read”An “authoritative read”
But also…But also…
An “experience” (“A sense of a journey”)An “experience” (“A sense of a journey”)
24-7, the “continuous news desk” and24-7, the “continuous news desk” and
“broadcast-like”“broadcast-like”

6. ““(Our mission) is to produce content that(Our mission) is to produce content that
meshes with stories being received frommeshes with stories being received from
the Washington Post newspaper…the Washington Post newspaper…
I don’t want to be bound by those structures.I don’t want to be bound by those structures.
For most print products, there’s such aFor most print products, there’s such a
force of institutional history that it’s veryforce of institutional history that it’s very
difficult to allow for new possibilities. Atdifficult to allow for new possibilities. At
washingtonpost.com virtually everything iswashingtonpost.com virtually everything is
new and fresh so there’s more of an ‘aha’new and fresh so there’s more of an ‘aha’
moment when you start to see good stuff.”moment when you start to see good stuff.”
Tom Kennedy, managing editor ofTom Kennedy, managing editor of
washingtonpost.comwashingtonpost.com

7. The ProcessThe Process
(Procedures, routines)(Procedures, routines)
Process is about the technology (i.e.Process is about the technology (i.e.
content editing now technical edits)content editing now technical edits)
New “nodes of thinking” that “bring theNew “nodes of thinking” that “bring the
user to the next level”user to the next level”
Enhanced details; 3-D considerationsEnhanced details; 3-D considerations
CollaborativeCollaborative
““We’re changing the trajectoryWe’re changing the trajectory
of news production.”of news production.”

8. On linking off site:On linking off site:
““We knew from the beginning that it wasWe knew from the beginning that it was
required for this kind of a page.required for this kind of a page.
We knew that there is plenty of other veryWe knew that there is plenty of other very
good reporting out there.good reporting out there.
And we knew that to have credibility with theAnd we knew that to have credibility with the
reader we couldn’t just say,reader we couldn’t just say,
well, here’s what The Times is reportingwell, here’s what The Times is reporting
and ignore everybody else.”and ignore everybody else.”
Len ApcarLen Apcar
executive editor of NYTimes.comexecutive editor of NYTimes.com

9. RelationshipsRelationships
(presiding over society)(presiding over society)
““Journalism is now a dialogue rather than aJournalism is now a dialogue rather than a
monologue”monologue”
““The audience is becoming part of theThe audience is becoming part of the
presentation”presentation”
A place for people “to explore their personalA place for people “to explore their personal
spaces”spaces”
““We’re a partner with the public now”We’re a partner with the public now”
““We’re a switch connecting” sources withWe’re a switch connecting” sources with
readersreaders
Customization and personalizationCustomization and personalization

10. Time and PlaceTime and Place
TimeTime  SpeedSpeed
““Internet time” more realInternet time” more real
Time manipulations (i.e. “Back” button; archives)Time manipulations (i.e. “Back” button; archives)
PlacePlace  SpaceSpace
The platform of journalism exists in “Internet space”The platform of journalism exists in “Internet space”
Restructured public spheresRestructured public spheres

11. Message: Journalism
Journalism
Sources
Sender: Sources
NEWS
NEWS
Receiver: mass audience
Receiver:
individuals
Online: A new institution?
News as an institution
authority
authority
Message
Fig. 1a. In Shannon & Weaver’s concept
of a linear communication model (1949),
the message is delivered in a top-down
manner via the institution of journalism.
Fig. 1b. Online technology allows journalism to serve as a support
beam in the institution of news, rather than the entire structure. News,
then, becomes a negotiated process involving sources, journalists and
audience members. Authority is shared, not dictated, as is the message.

12. Senders
Sources
GATEKEEPER
Journalists
GATEWAY
Citizen
Media
Citizen
Media
MESSAGES
Service:
• experience
• personalization
• multimedia/
interactivity
Product:
• inform
• mass
message
• text/image
Individuals
Receivers
Sources
Encoding
Decoding
Encoding
Decoding
Fig. 2. Online, Shannon & Weaver’s model morphs into a more circular, more open concept in which the
message is encoded and decoded by multiple players in a nonlinear process. Journalism serves as a platform.
Media Channels
Journalism
Media Channels
Journalism

13. ConclusionConclusion
Experience. Interact. Participate.Experience. Interact. Participate.
The institution still facilitates information,The institution still facilitates information,
but knowledge is becoming less dictatedbut knowledge is becoming less dictated
GatekeepingGatekeeping  GatewayGateway