The Evolving Role of Journalists as Gatekeepers in the Age of (Generative) Artificial Intelligence

Algorithms are becoming an increasingly prominent actor in the research of communication scholars - they now often determine where information goes and moves within newsrooms. As these algorithms become more complex due to developments within (generative) artificial intelligence (AI), journalistic roles change, which affects journalism as a process, a product, and an institution. Moreover, the potential impact of these algorithms is often examined in the short term, leaving the overall impact on media contexts understudied. This chapter, therefore, proposes a conceptual framework to examine algorithms within the news reporting process regarding the role of journalists as gatekeepers in the long term.