ABSTRACT
The
research examined the Role of Gatekeeping in News production and dissemination”
(A case study of Nigerian Tribune Newspaper Letters to the Editors Column). From
the findings, it is clear that the role of gatekeepers cannot be overemphasized
as it determines the quality of the media output or message. If the gatekeepers
perform well, the integrity and reputation of the media will be effective. This
will also reduce the level of error committed.
According to Bittner (1989) one of the functions of gatekeepers is to
limit the information we received by editing this information before it is
disseminated to us; to expand the amount of information we receive by giving us
additional facts or views and to reorganize or interpret the information. It is
also recommended that media outfit should employed qualified people that will
be saddled with the role of opening and closing of information gate. Seminars
and workshops should be continuous activities i.e training and retraining of
staff is essential. Media library should be updated and upgraded all the time
because media practitioners are expected to know everything about something and
something about everything. Media owners should allow the media managers and
staff to operate freely so that the integrity of such organisation will be
higher. Survey research method was adopted while 120 copies of questionnaires
were administered to the selected respondents of which 90 copies were returned.