what creates gatekeeping despite freedom of expression?

Freedom of expression does not mean equal access to attention.

Imagine that 1,000 historians are free to write whatever they want.

Nobody legally prevents them from writing:

“I have a new interpretation of Lincoln.”

But now consider what happens afterward.

They need:

access to research resources;

publication;

peer review;

conferences;

academic appointments;

citations;

teaching opportunities;

recognition.

These are filters.

That is where the concept of gatekeeping becomes relevant.