Gatekeeping & Agenda Setting

My topic is gatekeeping and agenda setting, and how these two ideas are connected in the media.

Gatekeeping is the process where journalists, editors, and media organizations decide which information becomes news. Every day, thousands of events happen around the world, but the media cannot report everything. Because of this, people working in the media act as “gatekeepers.” They decide which stories are important enough to pass through the “gate” and reach the public. 

Agenda setting happens after that process. Agenda setting means the media influences what the public thinks is important by giving certain topics more attention than others. The media may not directly tell people what to think, but it strongly influences what people think about.

These two ideas work closely together. Gatekeeping decides which stories make it into the news, and agenda setting decides which of those stories receive the most attention. When media outlets focus on certain topics again and again, those topics become the issues that people talk about the most in society.

There are both positive and negative implications of this.

On the positive side, gatekeeping helps organize the huge amount of information happening in the world. Journalists check sources, verify facts, and try to make sure that the information they publish is accurate. This helps prevent misinformation from spreading and allows the public to focus on important issues like public health, elections, economic changes, or natural disasters.

However, there can also be negative effects. Since humans are making these decisions, bias, personal opinions, or political interests can influence which stories are chosen. Sometimes important issues may not receive much coverage because they are not considered exciting enough or profitable for media companies. This can cause the public to focus on certain issues while ignoring others that may also be important.

A good example of gatekeeping and agenda setting can be seen in how the media covers crime. If news stations frequently report violent crimes, people may start to believe that crime is increasing or that society is becoming more dangerous. In reality, crime rates might actually be decreasing. The media first used gatekeeping when they chose those crime stories to report. Then they created agenda setting by repeatedly covering those stories and making crime seem like one of the most important issues in society.

These can affect different groups of people in different ways. Wealthier individuals or large organizations may have more influence over media platforms or the ability to control their public image. Meanwhile, issues affecting poorer communities may receive less attention. Minority groups may also be underrepresented in the media or may not always have their perspectives fully shown in news coverage.

Overall, gatekeeping and agenda setting play a powerful role in shaping public opinion. By deciding what information reaches the public and which issues receive the most attention, the media has a major influence on how people understand the world and what issues society believes are most important.

Online Privacy

After watching the TED Talks on privacy, I didn’t just feel informed I felt uneasy. As someone who plans to become a lawyer, I see how privacy is becoming one of the most critical legal battles of our generation.

We voluntarily share information online every day: photos, opinions, locations, political beliefs. But companies like Facebook and other tech platforms collect far more than we realize. Our data is tracked, analyzed, sold, and sometimes handed over. At the same time, governments use surveillance tools, facial recognition, and AI monitoring systems often without clear public understanding or consent.

As a future attorney, this raises major constitutional concerns. What happens to the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches when our phones track us 24/7? Who owns our digital footprint? Can data gathered by algorithms be trusted in court?

Privacy violations don’t just affect criminals, they affect everyone. My friends, my family, and I all carry devices that constantly collect information. A future case I argue in court may hinge on digital evidence pulled from someone’s social media, cloud storage, or search history.

The government must strengthen digital privacy protections, require transparency in AI systems, and hold corporations accountable for data misuse. At the same time, we must take responsibility: limit oversharing, use encryption, and understand that nothing online is ever truly private.

If privacy is the most vexing issue of the Digital Age, then defending it may be one of the most important roles I take on as a lawyer.

The Future of Work

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping the criminal justice field from policing and investigations to courts and community safety. AI tools can sift through huge amounts of data to help officers predict crime patterns, analyze evidence, and speed up investigations more efficiently than ever before. Predictive policing, crime mapping, and data analytics are already being used by some agencies to forecast where crime may occur and allocate resources wisely, meaning future officers will need strong tech literacy alongside traditional CJ skills. 

But AI isn’t just about efficiency it brings big legal and ethical questions. Systems that rely on biased or incomplete data can lead to discriminatory outcomes, wrongful identification, or unfair risk assessments. For example, AI generated tools like facial recognition have led to wrongful arrests when used without proper standards or oversight. 

At the same time, new resources like the Justice AI Tracker aim to increase transparency in how these technologies are used in police, courts, and corrections. 

The future of criminal justice will require professionals who can balance innovation with ethics ensuring public safety while protecting civil rights and due process. As I pursue my major at HPU, AI challenges me to think critically about fair use, bias, and transparency. My dream to make a positive impact on justice and community safety will depend on adapting to these new technologies and shaping how they are governed.

Market Place of Ideas

When thinking about the importance of your Amendments, you view the laws behind every situation regarding your rights. Looking at the Eight Values of Free Expression it dies down to what is important to you, when thinking in terms of wide range of significance you need to really dial down to one or two that truly impact your life. The two that I truly felt compelled to was "Stable Change" and "Individual Self Fulfillment". These both have major weight in my opinion, This is the foundation of our country, we praise our Freedom of Speech and how we are able to express ourselves through our words and identity. Having these in place gives our country societal influences to learn and grow from as a whole. 

Starting with "Stable Change", which in other words is called, Safety Valve Theory. This gives the free right of the people to let them communicate their opinions to the public. This was the governments way of letting people "vent", instead if interfering with the angry they let it occur so they don't get overturned in office, if they tried to stop the wrong person from freely practicing their rights. An example of this could also be a group setting as a protest where this specific crowd of people had a belief that a certain area of the law needs revision and this group decided to protest and also make a organization to make a difference just to be seen/heard. This protest was called, "March for Our Lives" dating back in February of 2018. 

This protest, known as March for Our Lives, was triggered by the Parkland school shooting. The movement demonstrated how free expression functions as a safety valve within society. Instead of allowing frustration, grief, and anger to turn into violence, individuals were given a lawful and visible way to express their concerns. Through marches, speeches, social media campaigns, and organized advocacy, people were able to push for conversation and reform while remaining within the structure of the law. This is exactly how stable change is meant to operate, allowing society to release pressure, challenge authority, and encourage reform without destabilizing the nation as a whole.

The second value that strongly impacts my life is Individual Self-Fulfillment. Freedom of expression allows individuals to develop their identity, beliefs, and sense of purpose without fear of punishment or censorship. Being able to speak openly, express opinions, and align oneself with causes or communities helps people understand who they are and what they stand for.

A clear example of individual self-fulfillment can be seen through social movements such as Black Lives Matter. Individuals involved in this movement use free expression; through protests, speeches, art, and social media, to share personal experiences, call attention to injustice, and advocate for change. For many participants, speaking out is not just about influencing policy, but about reclaiming their voice and affirming their identity in a society where they may have felt unheard. This ability to express deeply personal beliefs publicly allows individuals to feel empowered and validated, reinforcing their sense of self.

Without this freedom, individuals would be forced to suppress their thoughts and emotions, which could lead to frustration, isolation, or a loss of personal identity. Individual self-fulfillment through expression strengthens democracy by encouraging authenticity and diversity of thought. When people are free to express who they are and what they believe, society becomes more informed.

Top 5 Sources of News

 

#1 TikTok

I rely on TikTok for majority of my information when wanting to understand whats going on around the world currently. It is very easy to utilize and isn't all just reading a large text, it is more visual and can really feel the emotion behind what is truly going on around the universe today. It has also helped me learn many new techniques and tutorials on anything you need help on. It is driven by anyone in the world so the information isn't always reliable but if your understanding the content of AI and real then its a useful source. 

#2 Google 

This is a worldwide base where everyone can use to find anything. I use Google in my day to day life. I will use it for school, new information, or to look up external browsing tabs to help me accomplish my everyday tasks. It is very useful when used appropriately and when something doesn't seem to be correct you can find a million other sources that could also be scholarly to help the biased concerns. Google has evolved with the years but this Is the standard use for everyone's living including mine to browse anything. 

#3 Family, Friends, & Educators

My surrounding of people also is my source of grasping information I need or to even to learn new information about day to day news. My professors are usually explaining to the class the news that has been going around the country and it helps me stay connected. My family is another great source of mine, my dad watches the news everyday, whether its reading or watching it on the TV so he makes it a priority to call me when his new details when he listens or reads something interesting that he might think I would need to know. Finally I learn the most news from my friends since I am around them the most. Rumors or information gets spread quickly within our generation today so I get to be informed about a lot when surrounded by my friends.  

#4 FOX NEWS

This is my ideal way of find major events that are occurring in our country. I will use FOX NEWS to help me keep up to date with information that is important to my living. I will use this when im hearing rumors of either our country falling apart or an even that is making others worried. I also used it to help me understand the Law since I will be an attorney one day and is a useful way of practice for me to learn the political side of things. 

#5 Email

I am one to get my information about upcoming important dates or involvement through my email. It is very useful when it's condensed information that comes through that will interest you or benefit you in a certain way. I use my email a lot when trying to see what new things I can add to my everyday life to be more involved. I also find useful information about upcoming meetings, canceled activities, opportunities for jobs/Internships, or even a professional way to communicate with your educators or people in the career field.