Watchdog role
Both modern and old democracy, the idea that the media plays a role as the eyes and ears of the public and is not merely a passive recorder of events is generally acknowledged today. There is no denying that the myth of a brave journalist that faithfully follows the path of wrongdoing is very much alive, both in the media and even in the popular lore.
Corruption and the watchdog role of the news media, Sheila Coronel (Sheila S. Coronel is a Philippines-born investigative journalist and journalism professor. She is one of the founders of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism) also argues that the government cannot be held responsible if citizens are ill-informed about the actions of officials and institutions, because watchdog reporting covers a wide range of different types of journalism. In a daily basis, the watchdog press monitors day-to-day government work, allowing citizens to assess the quality of their performance.
In addition, reporting that goes beyond what officials or their spokespersons claim to examine performance is also a form of watchdog. The watchdog press also assures that individuals and institutions who are expected to serve the public remain transparent and accountable. A vigilant press is therefore the key to good governance. She also noted that watchdog reporting covers a variety of issues ranging from personal scandals to financial wrongdoing, political corruption, and enrichment.
They can also be categorized according to who initiates the revelation, and this is often the result of leaks by stakeholders such as government investigators, rival businesses, politicians or opposition political parties, whilst some are deceived by whistleblowers inside the organization. Several of the allegations are investigated first by advocacy organizations and campaigners, and later picked up by mainstream news organizations.
Sheila Coronel also concludes that watchdog journalism has high hopes of what it can do, especially in terms of controlling corruption and exposing fraud. The press encourages investigations of those involved of malfeasance and catalyzes changes in legislation and regulations. It also helps shape public opinion against corrupt governments and generates public hostility against those who abuse their office.
Maxwell Mccombs, 2001 concluded that the ability of the news media to set a nation's agenda, to focus public attention on a variety of important public issues is a wide and well-documented influence. In comparison, not only do people obtain factual information about public affairs from the news media; readers also learn how important the issue is based on the importance placed on it in the news.
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