"This review presents evidence to suggest that independent media play a critical role in improving governance and reducing corruption, increasing economic efficiency and stability, and creating positive social and environmental change. The media provide information to actors throughout society allowing them to participate in the decisions and debates that shape their lives. The media also play in important monitoring role in a democracy that enables citizens to hold their governments and elected officials accountable—leading to better policies and service implementation. For these reasons and others media development should be viewed as a desirable development outcome that underpins all others." (Summary)