The New Gatekeepers

Abstract

This study explores interactions between journalism and Silicon Valley with a qualitative textual analysis of interviews in the Riptide oral history of the digital disruption of journalism. Discourse between 4 senior news executives and 22 technology executives, developers, investors, and entrepreneurs indicated that journalists and technologists interact with each other based on institutional-level concerns. Journalists and technologists expressed a shared assumption that Silicon Valley platforms have taken an intermediary gatekeeping role between journalism and citizens. Silicon Valley actors expressed common values such as a belief that technological solutions can be found for societal problems and that information should be freely accessible. To the extent that institutions are influenced by discourse and discourse shapes understanding of journalism and other institutional actors, the findings suggested Silicon Valley could be understood as an emerging institution that has gained control of a societal sector of exchanging information over digital networks. Silicon Valley and journalism actors expressed common concerns such as a need for citizens to have information they need to participate in democracy. However, Silicon Valley actors did not express a belief that the values of journalism are necessary to achieve those outcomes.