A literature review was undertaken in order to compare the gatekeeping forces present in a music radio station and a news organization. Findings were then presented to a radio program director for comments. Results show music radio to be both a leader and a follower of public opinion. Music programmers may choose individual songs to introduce to their audience, but it is the gatekeeping environment that guides the choices a programmer makes. "I make all …showed first 75 words of 4106 total…

…showed last 75 words of 4106 total…in the construction of reality. New York: Free Press. White, D. M. (1950). The "Gatekeeper": A case study in the selection of news. Jounalism Quarterly, 27, 383-390. Whitney, D. C. (1982). Mass communicator studies: Similarity, difference, and level of analysis. In D. C. Whitney and J. S. Ettema (Eds.). Individuals in mass media organizations: Creativity and constraint. Beverly Hill, CA: Sage. Wood, G. (1990, March 3). Stations rethink currents on playlists: But tight rotations are still the rule. Billboard, 102, 36-38.