Document details

Corruption and the Media

In: A Research Agenda for Studies of Corruption
Alina Mungiu-Pippidi; Paul M. Heywood (eds.)
Edward Elgar Publishing (2020), pp. 107-117

ISBN 9781789904994 (print); 9781789905007 (ebook)

"The chapter offers an overview of the relationship between media and corruption. In a critical review of literature on the role of journalism in curbing corruption, different models and mechanisms are outlined. By presenting numerous studies, it is argued that press freedom helps to reduce corruption, and action should be taken in favour of policies for information accessibility, protection of journalists and media independence. The issue of media capture, and how corrupt environments influence the structure and role of news media, is also considered. A section is dedicated to how media contribute to the social construction of corruption: case studies from multiple countries are compared, showing how corruption is framed in different contexts. Finally, directions for future research are suggested, including further theoretical elaboration on the relationship between media framing and public policies in relation to corruption, and research on the role of ICT in relation to journalism and corruption." (Abstract)