IGNOU MJM 20 2026 - Examine the applicability of Westley and Maclean's Model of Commun

Question

Examine the applicability of Westley and Maclean's Model of Communication in the context of today's modern social media algorithms. Describe how the "gatekeeper" function within their model has transitioned from being performed by human editors to being performed by artificial intelligence (AI) driven feed systems. Is the model still viable for explaining the manner in which today's audiences receive information, or is an entirely different model necessary?

06 Feb 2026

Answer :

Word Count : 1050

Westley and Maclean’s Model of Communication was developed to explain mass communication in a media environment dominated by traditional institutions such as newspapers, radio, and television. The model emphasizes the role of multiple sources of information (events), the communicator, the audience, and most importantly the gatekeeper, who selects, modifies, and transmits messages to the public. In its original form, the model reflects a linear yet flexible flow of communication where feedback from the audience can influence future message selection. When examined in the context of today’s algorithm-driven social media ecosystem, the core assumptions of the model remain relevant, but its mechanisms require reinterpretation to account for technological mediation and platform-based power. In the traditional media context, the gatekeeper in Westley and Maclean’s model was a human actor, such as an editor, news director, or producer. This gatekeeper decided which events were newsworthy, how they should be framed, and when they should be disseminated. These decisions were influenced by professional norms, editorial policies, ethical standards, political pressures, and economic considerations. The audience was largely passive in terms of message selection, though feedback mechanisms such as letters to the editor or ratings did exist. The model thus captured a mediated reality where audiences received a curated version of the world shaped by institutional priorities. In the contemporary digital media environment, particularly on social media platforms, the role of the gatekeeper has shifted dramatically. Human editors have not disappeared entirely, but their influence has been significantly reduced in comparison to algorithmic systems. Artificial intelligence-driven feed algorithms on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok now perform the primary gatekeeping function. These algorithms automatically select,

__________ ___ ___ _____ ______ _____ _______ ______ _______ ____ _________.
_______ ____ _________ ____ ________ ______ _____ _____ ___ ___.
____ _________ _____ ___ __________ _____ __________ ____ ___ _______ ______.
_______ ________ _______ ___ ___ _______ ______ _______ _________.
_____ __________ ___ ___ ___ _____ _________ _______ __________.
____ __________ ___ ______ _________ ___ ___ __________.
__________ ____ __________ _______ ________ ____ ________ _______ ____ ____ _______.
_________ ____ ____ __________ __________ ___ _______ ___ ____ _________.
______ _____ _______ ___ _______.
__________ __________ _______ ______ _________ _________.
___ _____ ________ _________ _____ ____ _______.
___ ____ __________ ________ ___ ______ _______ ___ __________.
_____ _____ _________ ___ ________ _____ _________ ______.
_______ ______ ______ _____ _________ ______ _____ ________.
_________ ________ _____ ____ _____ ____ _________ _________ __________ _________ _______.
____ _______ ______ ________ _______ ___ ________ __________ _____ _____ ________.
_______ _________ _______ _____ _______ ______ _______ __________.
_______ ______ ___ _________ ______ _________.
___ _________ _____ _______ _________ _____ ____.
_________ _____ ______ _______ _______ ___ ______ ____ ________.
__________ ____ _________ ____ _________ ___ __________.
_________ __________ ________ _______ ______ ___ ___ ______ ______ _____.
_________ _________ ____ _____ _________ _______ _________ _________ ________.
__________ ___ _____ ______ _____ _____ _____ _____ _________ __________ ________ _________.
__________ _____ ___ ___ _____ ___ ___ ______ ____ _____ __________.
_______ _____ __________ __________ _________ ________.
_______ _________ _________ ______ ________ ___ _____ ________ _______.
_____ ______ ___ ____ __________ ___ ____ _______.
______ ________ ______ ____ __________ _____ _______.
__________ ________ _______ ________ __________ ______ _________ ______ ________ _________ __________ __________.
_______ ___ _______ __________ _______ _______ _____.
_____ _____ _______ ________ ____ ________ ___ ___ ______ ________.
____ _________ ____ ______ _________ ________ ___ ____ ___ _____ ____.
__________ __________ _________ ___ ____.
________ _____ _________ _______ ___.
_________ ____ _______ ________ ____ _____ __________ _________ ________ __________.
_______ _____ _____ _________ __________.
____ __________ ___ ________ ______ ___ _________ __________ ___.
___ _______ ___ _____ _____ __________ _________ ____.
______ _______ _________ ___ ___.
_____ _______ ____ ___ ________.
________ _______ ____ _____ ________ ____ _________ _________ ____ ____.
__________ __________ __________ ______ __________.
________ ____ __________ ____ __________ _______.
______ _______ ____ ________ ________ ________.
_____ ____ ___ __________ ______ ________ ____ ____.
___ ________ _______ _______ _________ _______.
__________ ______ ____ ___ ________ _________ ___ _______ _________ ____.
_________ ___ ______ __________ ___ _________ _________.
___ _____ __________ _____ ________ _____ ______.
___ _________ ______ __________ ____.
_______ __________ __________ ______ _____ _________ _________.
___ _________ ________ ______ _____ ___ ________.
_________ __________ _________ _________ ________ _________ __________ _________ ________ _________ ________ __________.
___ __________ ____ _________ ___ ___ _____ ______ _________ ______ ___ _______.
____ __________ _____ _____ __________.
____ _____ _______ ________ _______ ________ ___ _____ ________ ______.
___ _____ ________ ___ ______ ________ __________ _______ ____ _______ __________ ______.
______ _______ _________ _______ ________ ________ _______.
_____ _____ ____ ________ __________ ____ ____ _________ ___ _________ ______ ____.
________ ______ ___ ____ _______ ____ ________ ______ ____ _______ _________ __________.
_______ ____ ___ __________ _________ ____ _________ __________ __________ __________.
___ ________ _____ _____ ______ _________ ____ __________ ______.
__________ _____ ______ _____ _________ ________ _______ ________.
_________ __________ _____ _________ ____ ______.
______ ___ ___ ______ ________ ________.
_____ _______ ________ ___ ______ _________ _____.
___ _______ _______ _________ _____.
_______ ____ ________ ________ __________ ______ ______ ____ __________ ____ _________.
________ ____ ______ ____ ____ ______ ______ ____ ________ __________ ________.
____ _____ _________ _______ ________.
_________ _____ ____ __________ ___.
_____ _____ _____ ________ _________ ____ ______ _________.
_______ _____ ________ __________ __________ __________.
___ _______ _________ ____ _____ ______ ___ __________.
____ _______ ____ ________ ____ ____ _____ __________ _______ ____ _____.
____ ____ ______ ______ _______ ____ ____ ____ _______ ____ ______.
___ ________ __________ __________ __________ __________ ______ ______.
___ _____ ________ _____ _________.
_______ _______ ________ _________ _____ __________ _______ ________ ________.
___ ______ ____ _______ ____.
_____ _______ ________ ______ ____ _______ _________.
______ _____ _______ _________ ______ __________ ________ __________ _________ __________ ____.
__________ ______ _________ ____ ____ _______ ____ ________ _____ __________ ______ ___.
__________ ______ _________ ______ ____ _________ ____.
____ __________ _______ ____ __________ ___ ___ ____ ________ ______ ______.
______ __________ ___ ___ __________ _________ ____ ________ ________ ________ _____ _________.
______ ___ ________ ________ _____.
______ _________ _______ ____ _______ ___ _____ ________.
________ ___ ______ ________ _______ ______ __________ ________ __________ _______ _______.
______ _____ __________ _______ ________ ____ _________.
______ _______ _________ __________ ____ _______ __________.
_________ ________ ________ _______ _________.
____ _______ _____ __________ ______ ___ ________.
__________ __________.

IGNOU ACADEMY

Your IGNOU journey, made easier.

Solved Assignments
Study Notes
Guess Papers
Question Papers

Call Us WhatsApp

STUDY • PREPARE • SUCCEED

Skip in 10

IGNOU Solved Assignments Assignments Ignou Projects Project Previous Year Solved Exam Papers Notes Notes Sample Question Papers Sample Question Papers