This article examines how gatekeeping theory relates to the use of social media during uprisings in Iran, Egypt, and Libya. It argues that while user-generated content on social media had a global reach, news outlets still acted as gatekeepers in what content they chose to report on. The article uses a content analysis of social media during the uprisings and found news outlets only picked images and videos that made for compelling human interest stories, not reporting comprehensively. It concludes that while citizens could document events online, news outlets still controlled what wider audiences saw.

1. GATEKEEPING AND
CITIZEN
JOURNALISM:
THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA DURINGTHE
RECENT UPRISINGS IN IRAN, EGYPT, AND
LIBYA
Jordon Pollard
Abstract 5

2. Summary
■ The article examines how Gatekeeping theory relates to the use of social media by civil
journalist.
■ Argues that despite the global reach the use of user generated content (UGC) is still
subject to the gatekeeping practices of news outlets
■ To support that theory the article examines the use of UGC during the uprisings in Iran,
Egypt, and Libya

3. Methodology & Findings
■ Article uses a content analysis to analyze the use of social media content in news
cycles during the uprisings in Iran, Egypt, and Libya
■ Found that UGC was used to help organize the protests and revolution (Libya), but did
not on it’s own help coverage of the events.
■ News outlets only picked up certain images, videos, and posts based on what would be
considered good human interests stories
– Specifically in Iran the video/image of Neda Agha-Solam being shot, and in Egypt the
video/image of the death of business man Khaled Saeed

4. Conclusion & Critique
■ Conclusion:Civil journalist armed with social media are better able to depict the
events as the unfold, but are less able to disseminate that information due to the
gatekeepers in news outlets.
– Outlets choose only the stories that fit their organizations narratives/routines
■ Critique:
– The article would have benifitted from the use of some data to show how the number of
social media posts from the area during the timeframe, and the subsequent coverage of
those posts (How many ended up being picked up and discussed on by news outlets)