Does a typology exist of ways in which journalism can help curb corruption? How can the media be strengthened in the fight against corruption? This paper written for the World Bank examines the role the media can play in fighting corruption. Corruption tends to flourish when institutions are weak and economic policies distort the market place. If corruption is not contained it will grow.
Civil society and the media are arguably the two most important factors in eliminating systemic corruption in public institutions:
- There is a strong correlation between the incidence of corruption and the extent to which the media is free.
- The media can act as a force against corruption in ways that are both tangible and intangible.
- Hard-hitting independent journalism can act as an indirect check on corruption by informing public debate in a way that enhances political and economic competition.
- To be effective the media has to be free
- To enjoy freedom of access the main preconditions are: political stability, independent judiciary and the presence of adequate infrastructure.
With regard to the curbing of corruption the media has a dual role to raise public awareness and to report on incidences of corruption. There are several factors that may enhance this process:
- Mechanisms must be set in place to ensure that media are owned by different proprietors.
- If journalists are expected to cover and present news fairly and accurately, they need to possess the tools and appropriate knowledge for it.
- In many young and fragile democracies, media experience is so limited that there may be merit, for example, in the establishment of a press council.
- Successful strategies to curb corruption will have to simultaneously seek to reduce an official’s monopoly and discretionary power, while enhancing his/her accountability.
