Who shapes the news? Analyzing journalists’ and organizational interests as competing influences on biased coverage

This study investigates influences on gatekeeping processes that have the potential to cause biased media coverage. We tested whether and, if so, to what extent journalists’ and organizational interests affect journalistic news processing. In a content analysis, we contrasted the press coverage (n = 1199 articles) of trade disputes of newspaper journalists with the coverage of other trade disputes. Results indicate both coverage and statement bias. In their coverage of newspaper disputes, journalists evaluated employers’ offers significantly more negatively, framed industrial action as legitimate, and criticized employers’ behavior during strikes.