Changing Gatekeepers in the New Media Age: An Analysis of Internet Newspapers and Twitter

Abstract

The study aims to reveal the relationship between the user, who has the role of "secondary gatekeeper" with social media, and online newspapers. Thus, this study provides information about the secondary gatekeeping role by helping us understand the relationship between online newspapers, social media and secondary gatekeepers. Thus, this study helps us to understand the relationship between online newspapers, social media and secondary gatekeepers and provides information about the role of secondary gatekeeping. In the study, the news published by media organizations that carry out journalistic activities on Twitter, a social media platform, and the rate and nature of the interaction given to this news by users were examined using qualitative research methods. Therefore, it includes findings that will help to determine the popularity of the news published by online newspapers on Twitter, the topics to which they direct interest, and what kind of reactions are generated by the users. The sample of the study consists of the news published on Twitter between 5-9 December 2022 by internet newspapers such as Aykırı, Ensonhaber, GZT and Pusholder, which actively publish on Twitter in Turkey. Numerical values related to the research findings are presented in frequency and percentage tables and graphs. According to the research findings, it has been determined that Twitter users influence online newspapers in the news publishing process and thus assume a secondary threshold watchdog role.