Paper Number
ICIS2025-1592
Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
Gatekeeping has long structured the flow of information in society, traditionally controlled by media institutions. With the rise of the internet and platform infrastructures, gatekeeping shifted toward distribution and algorithmic intermediation. Today, generative artificial intelligence (AI) marks a further evolution and profoundly broadens the scope of gatekeeping. Through a multiple-case study of European publishers, this paper investigates how generative AI reshapes media gatekeeping along the media value chain (MVC). We identify four gatekeeping mechanisms—infrastructural, editorial, conversational, and personalization gatekeeping—that are triggered by publisher-facing and user-facing AI applications. Our findings show that generative AI extends gatekeeping both upstream and downstream, modularizes media workflows, and reconfigures the roles of intermediaries and publishers. We reconceptualize gatekeeping as a multi-layered, systemic process embedded in platform infrastructures, offering theoretical, practical, and societal insights into the future of media and information control.
Recommended Citation
Zwingmann, Nina; Hoffmeister, Eva Isabel; Engert, Simon Paul; and Hess, Thomas, "Shifting the Gate – Generative AI’s Impact on Media Gatekeeping" (2025). ICIS 2025 Proceedings. 6.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2025/is_media/is_media/6
Shifting the Gate – Generative AI’s Impact on Media Gatekeeping
Gatekeeping has long structured the flow of information in society, traditionally controlled by media institutions. With the rise of the internet and platform infrastructures, gatekeeping shifted toward distribution and algorithmic intermediation. Today, generative artificial intelligence (AI) marks a further evolution and profoundly broadens the scope of gatekeeping. Through a multiple-case study of European publishers, this paper investigates how generative AI reshapes media gatekeeping along the media value chain (MVC). We identify four gatekeeping mechanisms—infrastructural, editorial, conversational, and personalization gatekeeping—that are triggered by publisher-facing and user-facing AI applications. Our findings show that generative AI extends gatekeeping both upstream and downstream, modularizes media workflows, and reconfigures the roles of intermediaries and publishers. We reconceptualize gatekeeping as a multi-layered, systemic process embedded in platform infrastructures, offering theoretical, practical, and societal insights into the future of media and information control.
When commenting on articles, please be friendly, welcoming, respectful and abide by the AIS eLibrary Discussion Thread Code of Conduct posted here.
Comments
23-Media