이 연구는 한국 주요 신문 에디터들이 게이트키핑 과정에서 취재기자가 작성해온 기사에 포함된 사실을 어떻게 확인하고, 어떻게 사실을 확정하는 방식으로 기사를 다듬는지 그 관행을 알아보았다. 기존 게이트키핑 연구가 주로 뉴스 주제 또는 게이트키핑에 영향을 미치는 요인에 대한 것이었던 것과 달리, 이 연구는 사실확인을 중심으로 한 게이트키핑 행태를 알아보는 것을 목적으로 했다. 6개 주요 일간지 사회부 에디터 12명을 인터뷰한 결과, 에디터들은 형식적이고 방어적으로, 통과의례처럼 사실 확인을 하고 있었으며, ‘요구된 사실’에 맞춰 진실을 왜곡하기도 하는 모습이 나타났다. 표현 측면에서는 취재원의 익명 표현과 관련해 인식과 실천이 괴리되어 있었고, 명백히 문제가 되는 표현만 수정하고 있었으며 객관성을 가장해 의견을 표현하는 관행이 있었다. 이를 해결하기 위해 에디터를 대상으로 한 저널리즘 교육 실시, 사실확인 담당자 배치, 시민의 뉴스 리터러시 교육 등을 제안했으며, 한국 언론이 진실 검증자로 거듭나는 것이 필요하다는 점을 주장했다.

This study investigated the practices regarding how major Korean newspaper editors check and verify the facts contained in the articles written by reporters during the gatekeeping process, and how they refine articles in a way that confirms the facts. Unlike previous gatekeeping studies, which were mainly about news topics or factors that influence gatekeeping, this study aimed to investigate gatekeeping behaviors centered on fact verification. To that end, I conducted in-depth interviews with 12 editors of the social affairs department of six major daily newspapers: Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, Hankyoreh, Kyunghyang Shinmun, and Hankook Ilbo. Results showed that editors were checking facts formally and defensively based on trust, common sense, and experience, like a rite of passage, and they also distorted the truth according to the "required facts". In terms of expression, perceptions and practices were separated from the reporter"s anonymous expression, only the expressions that were clearly problematic were corrected, and there was a practice of expressing opinions by pretending to convey objectivity. Overall, editors were more aware of the fact-checking norms related to coverage and article writing, but it was found that, the more specific questions were asked, the more they emphasized the limitations of practice and justified the wrong way of doing things. Most interviewed editors had rationalized, internalized, and consolidated existing practices, and were unable to break away from existing wrong practices if they did not actively engage in learning with a sense of problem on their own. To solve this problem, the researcher suggested reinforcing journalism education for editors, assigning fact-checking staff, and teaching citizens" news literacy, and stressed the need for Korean media to be reborn as truth verifiers. The study is meaningful in that it has expanded its research on gatekeeping and media practices academically. Until now, gatekeeping research has mainly studied how gatekeeping has changed in the changing media environment and what factors affect gatekeeping. This study found out the gatekeeping practices, focusing on checking the facts, which can be said to be key in the news gatekeeping process, and found out more specifically the cause of the production of inaccurate reports that are not accurate. This study expands the subject and scope of research through specialized research for editors. In practice, it is meaningful that the clues for resolving the problem were substantiated by understanding the internal practices of the media. Until now, many studies have criticized news released without confirmation of facts, but the causes have been discussed somewhat abstractly. Editors" perceptions of facts, facts confirmation, and practices revealed through this study can be a practical guide in suggesting solutions that urge the press to report accurately and truthfully.