Paradigm Shift of “Gatekeeper” and Communication Turn: From the Perspective of Technological Evolution and Platform Governance Institutional Innovation

FANG Xingdong, ZHONG Xiangming

Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2022, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (1) : 97-117.

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Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2022, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (1) : 97-117.
Communication Research

Paradigm Shift of “Gatekeeper” and Communication Turn: From the Perspective of Technological Evolution and Platform Governance Institutional Innovation

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Abstract

From “gatekeeping” the content gate of journalism and communication to “gatekeeping” the social gate of platform governance, the paradigm shift of the concept of “gatekeeper” reflects the inevitable trend of technological progress and the development of the times, continues the internal consistent spirit of human civilization, and also represents the paradigm shift of human social communication and governance in the whole digital age. This study traces the origin of the concept of “gatekeeper” and combs its connotation and paradigm transformation process through literature research and interdisciplinary comparative research. From the “gatekeeper” in the field of journalism and communication to the “gatekeeper” on the Internet platform, this paper analyzes the changes and invariance, and discriminates the essence of the change in the digital age and the difficulties faced by today’s human social governance. From the “gatekeeper” of journalism and communication to the “gatekeeper” of the platform is essentially a paradigm shift in the role and role of information communication in human society. Under the guidance of the new human communication behavior with data as the core, the theoretical basis and knowledge system of communication need to be reconstructed in order to realize the real paradigm transformation of communication. The change of the concept of “gatekeeper” provides important enlightenment for the transformation and reconstruction of communication.

Key words

“gatekeeper” / Internet platform / the Digital Markets Act / platform governance / communication reform

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FANG Xingdong , ZHONG Xiangming. Paradigm Shift of “Gatekeeper” and Communication Turn: From the Perspective of Technological Evolution and Platform Governance Institutional Innovation[J]. Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication. 2022, 44(1): 97-117

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Footnotes

1. 参见Ending Platform Monopolies Act. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3825/text.

2. 参见The Digital Markets Act: ensuring fair and open digital markets. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-markets-act-ensuring-fair-and-open-digital-markets_en.

3. 参见Foroohar, R. (2018). Year in a Word: Techlash. Finance Time Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/76578fba-fca1-11e8-ac00-57a2a826423e.

4. 参见David Ciciline的Twitter账户 https://twitter.com/davidciciline/status/1313589672321441800.

5. 参见Ending Platform Monopolies Act. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3825/text.

Funding

Major Project of National Social Sciences Fund of China(21VGQ006)
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