Gatekeepers are news agencies and distributors that act as a bridge between the news and society. These agencies/institutions get to decide what news is shown to society and which isn't. Even though this is less true in recent times with anyone having the right to publish news online via social media or blogs, the people who publish these stories do not have the size of audience or the reputation that the larger, more mainstream organisations hold. For example, the BBC is one of the largest and well trusted 'gatekeepers' in the UK.
Not only do gatekeepers decide on which news is going to be given to society, they also get to decide on how it is give. This is called 'mediating' the news, meaning the story is changed depending on the political and ethical beliefs of the organisation/institution that is publishing the story. For example, in the US, Fox News and CNN may talk about the same story. However, Fox News would spin the story in a way that is affected by their right wing beliefs. This bias would intend to show the right wing in a positive light and possibly the left wing in a negative light. The same goes for CNN. However, instead of it showing the right wing in a good light and the lot in a bad light, it would do this the other way round. This is because of their left wing beliefs.
Gatekeepers cannot just spin stories in whatever way they like. This is because gatekeepers exist in order to protect the society that they are serving. If gatekeepers were allowed to spin a story to a ridiculous degree, this may incite rebellious acts against the other 'side'. For example, if Fox News published something that was outrageous and also inaccurate about the left wing, this may encourage the public who support the right wing to rebel and possibly break laws. This would then mean they have endangered the left wing part of society, meaning they have not done their job of protecting the whole of the society they serve.
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