PublicationsThe U4 Blog

U4 Helpdesk Answer

Media and corruption

The media can play a paramount role in exposing corruption and initiating legal, political and penal action against it. Different media genres unfold their respective strengths and show their limits as anti-corruption tools depending on the levels at which they take effect, on the audiences they address, and on the broader media ecosystem on which they rely.

12 May 2019
Download PDF
Media and corruption

Main points

  • The media can inform and educate people about the detrimental effects of corruption and, through exposure, increase the political risk of those involved in corrupt practices.
  • Fierce competition for audiences means some media outlets aim to entertain and amuse than to inform and mobilise people for reform.
  • Professional ethics and skills, protection from oppression and physical abuse, independence, sufficient resources and accessibility are necessary for the media to have an effect on anti-corruption efforts.

Cite this publication


Schauseil, W.; (2019) Media and corruption. Bergen: U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, Chr. Michelsen Institute (U4 Helpdesk Answer 2019:3)

Download PDF
Wasil Schauseil

Disclaimer


All views in this text are the author(s)’, and may differ from the U4 partner agencies’ policies.

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Photo