2026-05-20T18:57:04Zhttps://keep.lib.asu.edu/oai/request

oai:keep.lib.asu.edu:node-2012922025-05-06T22:43:47Zoai_pmh:repo_items

201292 https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.201292 http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ All Rights Reserved 2025 2027-05-01T17:44:46 404 pages Doctoral Dissertation Academic theses en Provenzano, Grace Marie Matera, Fran R Russell, Dennis Bramlett-Solomon, Sharon Dimitrova, Daniela Arizona State University Partial requirement for: Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2025 Field of study: Journalism and Mass Communication This qualitative study uncovers the decision-making processes of gatekeepers at the 2024 presidential conventions. Gatekeepers are the field producers who determine what information makes it through the “gate” and into news stories for their audience. Their role changes constantly to mirror ever-changing technology. The audience will learn, or not learn, what is happening at these events depending on news judgment of the gatekeeper, newsroom missions and news culture.A review of literature reveals an absence of the role of broadcast field producers in news coverage and decision-making. Research involving the role of field producers at national political conventions as gatekeepers in a multiplatform world is an original pursuit. Field producers accumulate information from sources and relay salient points to reporters in order to ultimately disseminate content to news consumers in a timely manner using various technological platforms. This gatekeeping role is vital to a properly informed electorate and a healthy democracy. Three research questions examine how news field producers prioritize their stories, analyze the ethical framework in their decision-making, observe the dimensions used in decision-making as well as their decisions regarding business realities during the 2024 Republican and Democratic National Conventions. Data collection utilizes qualitative tools of in-depth interviewing and participant observation. In addition, the ethnographic approach provides context to the decision process and the resulting coverage disseminated to national and international audiences. Thematic analyses dissects data into topical or conceptual themes, in which a pattern of stories or reoccurring subject matter for news stories are noted. This analysis comprises underlying ideas, assumptions, conceptualizations and even ideologies behind what journalists reported during these conventions. The purpose is to identify underlying threads or meanings that capture the essence of decision-making by field producers. There are ethical concepts to consider because it aids in the understanding of story selection. This objective is accomplished by primarily using Merrill’s models of TUFF and PASID to check for newsworthiness. Signs of Debord’s “Spectacle” are intermingled with more serious news of the day. This observation is analyzed alongside ethical frameworks and news judgment of political coverage during the 2024 presidential conventions. Journalism Ethics Political Science gatekeeping Journalism Ethics news field producers political conventions qualitative interviews Thematic Analysis Standing Guard: Gatekeeping by Network News Field Producers at the 2024 U.S. Political Conventions