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T HE R OLE OF THE M EDIA IN D EEPENING D EMOCRACY

SHEILA S. C ORONEL

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since the 17 th century, the role of the press as Fourth Estate an as a foru! for

pu"lic iscussion an e"ate has "een reco#ni$e . %o ay, espite the !ass !e ia&s

propensity for slea$e, sensationalis! an superficiality, the notion of the !e ia as

'atch o#, as #uar ian of the pu"lic interest, an as a con uit "et'een #o(ernors an the

#o(erne re!ains eeply in#raine .

%he reality, ho'e(er, is that the !e ia in ne' an restore e!ocracy o not

al'ays li(e up to the i eal. %hey are ho""le "y strin#ent la's, !onopolistic o'nership,

an so!eti!es, the threat of "rute force. State controls are not the only constraints.Serious reportin# is ifficult to sustain in co!petiti(e !e ia !ar)ets that put a pre!iu!

on the shallo' an sensational. *oreo(er, the !e ia are so!eti!es use as pro+ies in the

"attle "et'een ri(al political #roups, in the process so'in# i(isi(eness rather than

consensus, hate speech instea of so"er e"ate, an suspicion rather than social trust. In

these cases, the !e ia contri"ute to pu"lic cynicis! an e!ocratic ecay.

Still, in !any fle #lin# e!ocracies, the !e ia ha(e "een a"le to assert their role

in "uttressin# an eepenin# e!ocracy. In(esti#ati(e reportin#, 'hich in so!e cases has

le to the ouster of presi ents an the fall of corrupt #o(ern!ents, has !a e the !e ia an

effecti(e an cre i"le 'atch o# an "ooste its cre i"ility a!on# the pu"lic.

In(esti#ati(e reportin# has also helpe accusto! officials to an in uisiti(e press an

helpe "uil a culture of openness an isclosure that has !a e e!ocratically electe

#o(ern!ents !ore accounta"le. %rainin# for -ournalists, !anuals that ar! reporters 'ith

research tools, an a'ar s for in(esti#ati(e reportin# ha(e helpe create a corps of

in epen ent in(esti#ati(e -ournalists in se(eral ne' an restore e!ocracies.

e!ocracy re uires the acti(e participation of citi$ens. I eally, the !e ia shoul

)eep citi$ens en#a#e in the "usiness of #o(ernance "y infor!in#, e ucatin# an

!o"ilisin# the pu"lic. In !any ne' e!ocracies, ra io has "eco!e the !e iu! of

choice, as it is less e+pensi(e an !ore accessi"le. F* an co!!unity ra io ha(e "een

effecti(e instru!ents for pro!otin# #rassroots e!ocracy "y airin# local issues,

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pro(i in# an alternati(e source of infor!ation to official channels, an reflectin# ethnic

an lin#uistic i(ersity. %he Internet, too, can play such a role, "ecause of its interacti(ity,

relati(ely lo' costs of entry an free o! fro! state control.

%he !e ia can also help "uil peace an social consensus, 'ithout 'hich

e!ocracy is threatene . %he !e ia can pro(i e 'arrin# #roups !echanis!s for

!e iation, representation an (oice so they can settle their ifferences peacefully.

/nfortunately, the !e ia ha(e so!eti!es fanne the fla!es of iscor "y ta)in# si es,

reinforcin# pre-u ices, !u lin# the facts an pe lin# half0truths. 2eace -ournalis!,3

'hich is "ein# pro!ote "y (arious N4Os, en ea(ours to pro!ote reconciliation throu#h

careful reporta#e that #i(es (oice to all si es of a conflict an resists e+planation for

(iolence in ter!s of innate en!ities. %rainin# an the esta"lish!ent of !echanis!s

'here"y -ournalists fro! opposite si es of conflict can interact 'ith the other si e,inclu in# other -ournalists representin# i(er#ent (ie's, ha(e helpe propa#ate peace

-ournalis!.

%he !e ia can play a positi(e role in e!ocracy only if there is an ena"lin#

en(iron!ent that allo's the! to o so. %hey nee the re uisite s)ills for the )in of in0

epth reportin# that a ne' e!ocracy re uires. %here shoul also "e !echanis!s to

ensure they are hel accounta"le to the pu"lic an that ethical an professional stan ar s

are uphel . *e ia in epen ence is #uarantee if !e ia or#ani$ations are financially

(ia"le, free fro! inter(ention of !e ia o'ners an the state, an operate in a co!petiti(e

en(iron!ent. %he !e ia shoul also "e accessi"le to as 'i e a se#!ent of society as

possi"le. Efforts to help the !e ia shoul "e irecte to'ar 5 the protection of press

ri#hts, enhancin# !e ia accounta"ility, "uil in# !e ia capacity an e!ocratisin# !e ia

access.

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I. I NTRODUCTION

%HE *ASS *E IA are often referre to as the fourth "ranch of #o(ern!ent "ecause of the

po'er they 'iel an the o(ersi#ht function they e+ercise. %he !e ia&s )ey role in

e!ocratic #o(ernance has "een reco#ni$e since the late 17 th century, an re!ains a

fun a!ental principle of !o ern0 ay e!ocratic theory an practice.

%his paper e+a!ines the co!ple+ an !ulti0 i!ensional lin)a#es a!on# the

!e ia, e!ocracy, #oo #o(ernance an peaceful e(elop!ent. %he !e ia shape pu"lic

opinion, "ut they are in turn influence an !anipulate "y ifferent interest #roups in

society. %he !e ia can pro!ote e!ocracy "y a!on# other thin#s, e ucatin# (oters,

protectin# hu!an ri#hts, pro!otin# tolerance a!on# (arious social #roups, an ensurin#

that #o(ern!ents are transparent an accounta"le. %he !e ia, ho'e(er, can play anti0

e!ocratic roles as 'ell. %hey can so' fear, i(ision an (iolence. Instea of pro!otin#e!ocracy, they can contri"ute to e!ocratic ecay.

%he paper e+plains the constraints that ho""le the !e ia&s a"ility to play a

positi(e role in ne' e!ocracies. *onopolistic o'nership an strin#ent #o(ern!ent

controls are a!on# those constraints. ut the !ar)et 8 an the race a!on# !e ia fir!s

for au ience an !ar)et share 8 can e#ra e the uality of !e ia reportin# as 'ell. In

a ition, unethical -ournalistic practices an the use of !e ia or#ani$ations "y (arious

(este an so!eti!es, +enopho"ic, interests contri"ute to the !e ia&s ina"ility to fulfil

their e!ocratic function.

%he paper loo)s at the (ariety of 'ays in 'hich the (arious !e ia ha(e "een use

to support e!ocracy an e(elop!ent. %he !e ia, for e+a!ple, ha(e e+pose

!alfeasance in hi#h office, resultin# in the resi#nation or topplin# of hea s of state an in

the enact!ent of #o(ernance refor!s. In a ition, in !any ne' an restore

e!ocracies, the !e ia ha(e contri"ute to pu"lic e ucation an enli#hten!ent,

reconciliation a!on# 'arrin# social #roups, an to initiatin# !uch0nee e political an

social refor!s. %he paper en s 'ith a list reco!!en ations that 'ill help create an

ena"lin# en(iron!ent for the !e ia an ensure that they !a)e a positi(e contri"ution to

e!ocratic e(elop!ent.

II. T HE M EDIA ’S R OLE IN A D EMOCRACY

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E*OCRAC: is i!possi"le 'ithout a free press.

%his is a precept that is eeply in#raine in e!ocratic theory an practice. As

early as the 17 th century, Enli#hten!ent theorists ha ar#ue that pu"licity an openness

pro(i e the "est protection a#ainst tyranny an the e+cesses of ar"itrary rule. In the early

17;;s, the French political philosopher *ontes uieu, ra#in# a#ainst the secret

accusations eli(ere "y 2alace courtiers to the French hen le#islatures, -u iciaries

1 Stephen Hol!es, Li"eral constraints on pri(ate po'er?3 in =u ith Lichten"er# @e , Democracy and

the Mass Media ,3 Ca!"ri #e5 Ca!"ri #e /ni(ersity 2ress, 1BB1. pp. 610 D.


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an other o(ersi#ht "o ies are po'erless a#ainst the !i#hty or are the!sel(es

corrupti"le, the !e ia are often left as the only chec) a#ainst the a"use of po'er. %his

re uires that they play a heroic role, e+posin# the e+cesses of presi ents, pri!e !inisters,

le#islators an !a#istrates espite the ris)s.

%he !e ia also ser(e as a con uit "et'een #o(ernors an the #o(erne an as an

arena for pu"lic e"ate that lea s to !ore intelli#ent policy0 an ecision0!a)in#.

In ee , the Enli#hten!ent tra ition of the press as pu"lic foru! re!ains stron#. %he

press, 'rote /.S. tele(ision -ournalist ill *oyers in the early 1BB;s, shoul ra'

citi$ens to the pu"lic s uare an pro(i e a culture of co!!unity con(ersation "y

acti(atin# in uiry on serious pu"lic issues.3 6 In ne' e!ocracies, the e+pectation is that

the !e ia 'oul help "uil a ci(ic culture an a tra ition of iscussion an e"ate 'hich

'as not possi"le urin# the perio of authoritarian rule. Not -ust -ournalists, "ut e!inent conte!porary thin)ers li)e No"el laureate

A!artya Sen ascri"e to the press the sa!e cleansin# po'ers that Enli#hten!ent

philosophers ha en(isione . Sen outline the nee for transparency #uarantees3 such as

a free press an the free flo' of infor!ation. Infor!ation an critical pu"lic iscussion,

he sai , are an inescapa"ly i!portant re uire!ent of #oo pu"lic policy.3 %hese

#uarantees, he 'rote, ha(e a clear instru!ental role in pre(entin# corruption, financial

irresponsi"ility an un erhan e ealin#s.3

Sen sees the !e ia as a 'atch o# not -ust a#ainst corruption "ut also a#ainst

isaster. %here has ne(er "een a fa!ine in a functionin# !ultiparty e!ocracy,3 he sai .

A free press an the practice of e!ocracy contri"ute #reatly to "rin#in# out

infor!ation that can ha(e an enor!ous i!pact on policies for fa!ine pre(ention a free

press an an acti(e political opposition constitute the "est early0'arnin# syste! a country

threatene "y fa!ine coul ha(e.3 9

Since the late 1BB;s, onor countries an !ultilateral or#ani$ations ha(e also

"een preachin# the (irtues of a free press not -ust in ensurin# #oo an accounta"le

#o(ernance "ut also as a tool for po(erty re uction, popular e!po'er!ent an national

reconciliation.6

ill *oyers, O(erco!in# Ci(ic Literacy3 in Media Reader: Perspectives on Mass Media Industries, Effects, and Issues, 6n E ition, el!ont5 >a s'orth 2u"lishin# Co!pany, 1BB9.

3 A!artya Sen, Development and Freedom , Ne' :or)5 Anchor oo)s, 1BBB.D


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%he /nite Nations e(elop!ent 2ro#ra!!e @/N 2 says that a ressin#

po(erty re uires not -ust a transfer of econo!ic resources to the nee y "ut also !a)in#

infor!ation a(aila"le to the poor so that they can participate !ore !eanin#fully in

political an social life. After all, the poor cannot assert their ri#hts if they on&t )no'

'hat these are. If they are una'are of the la's an proce ures for a(ailin# the!sel(es of

their entitle!ents or the !echanis!s they can use to re!e y their epri(ations, they 'ill

al'ays re!ain poor. e!ocracy cannot ta)e root if the poor an po'erless are )ept out

of the pu"lic sphere. %he ar#u!ent is that effecti(e !e ia are the )ey as they can pro(i e

the infor!ation poor people nee to ta)e part in pu"lic life.

I eally, the !e ia shoul pro(i e (oice to those !ar#inali$e "ecause of po(erty,

#en er, or ethnic or reli#ious affiliation. y #i(in# these #roups a place in the !e ia,

their (ie's 8 an their afflictions 8 "eco!e part of !ainstrea! pu"lic e"ate anhopefully contri"ute to a social consensus that the in-ustices a#ainst the! ou#ht to "e

re resse . In this 'ay, the !e ia also contri"ute to the easin# of social conflicts an to

pro!otin# reconciliation a!on# i(er#ent social #roups.

All these are e+trapolations on the !e ia&s role as (irtual to'n hall or pu"lic

s uare5 "y pro(i in# infor!ation an actin# as a foru! for pu"lic e"ate, the !e ia play

a catalytic role, !a)in# refor!s possi"le throu#h the e!ocratic process an in the en

stren#thenin# e!ocratic institutions an !a)in# possi"le pu"lic participation, 'ithout

'hich e!ocracy is !ere sha!.

III. C ONSTRAINTS ON THE M EDIA

%HE REALI%: , ho'e(er, is that the !e ia in ne' an restore e!ocracies are not al'ays

up to the tas). For sure, e!ocracy has "een a "oon to the press. Ne' constitutions are

'ritten that pro(i e #uarantees of press free o! an the ri#ht to infor!ation, allo'in#

-ournalists to report on areas that 'ere pre(iously ta"oo. In a ition, e!ocratically

electe le#islatures ha(e enacte la's that allo' "oth -ournalists an or inary citi$ens

!uch !ore access to infor!ation on #o(ern!ent policy an the actions of politicians

than in the past.

Corruption an 4oo 4o(ernance5 iscussion 2aper 9,3 pu"lishe "y the *ana#e!ente(elop!ent an 4o(ernance i(ision, ureau for 2olicy an 2ro#ra!!e Support, /nite Nationse(elop!ent 2ro#ra!!e, 1BB7.


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%o ay, in !ost countries that ha(e un er#one a e!ocratic transition since the

1BG;s, the press is an i!portant player on the political sta#e. =ournalists are often feare

"y politicians "ecause they ha(e succee e in unco(erin# corruption, the a"use of po'er

an assorte !alfeasance. %hey are also relentlessly 'ooe "ecause a "a press can !ean

the en of a political career. 2olicies ha(e "een chan#e , refor!s initiate an corrupt

officials 8 inclu in# presi ents an pri!e !inisters 8 ouste partly "ecause of !e ia

e+pos s. In !any ne' e!ocracies, an a (ersarial press is part of the political process

an it is har to i!a#ine ho' #o(ern!ents 'oul function 'ithout it.

:et, espite constitutional #uarantees an in !any cases, also 'i e pu"lic support,

the !e ia in fle #lin# e!ocracies ha(e "een ho""le "y strin#ent la's, !onopolistic

o'nership an so!eti!es, "rute force. In 6;;6, 6; -ournalists 'ere )ille "ecause of

their 'or) an 19 'ere in prison "ecause authorities 'ere isplease 'ith their reportin#. *any of these (icti!s 'ere reportin# in ne' e!ocracies. D

State controls are not the only constraints. Serious reportin# is ifficult to sustain

in !e ia !ar)ets that put a pre!iu! on the shallo' an the sensational. A !e ia

e+plosion often follo's the fall of ictatorships. After Fer inan *arcos 'as topple in

1BG , for e+a!ple, scores of ne' ne'spapers an ra io stations spran# up in the

2hilippines, as citi$ens "as)e in the no(elty of a free press. In In onesia, hun re s of

ne' ne'spapers opene after the 960year rei#n of 2resi ent Soeharto en e in 1BBG.In onesians calle it the euphoria press.3 Euphoria is a 'on erful thin#, "ut it oes not

al'ays #i(e "irth to #oo -ournalis!. %he sa!e is the case for Central an Eastern

Europe an the ne'ly in epen ent states of the for!er So(iet /nion, 'here there 'as a

lac) of s)ille -ournalists to staff the ne's or#anisations create "y the !e ia "oo!. %he

"oo! also results in intense co!petition, 'hich often !eans racin# for the hea lines an

sacrificin# su"stance an epth.

%he co!petition for the !ar)et has !eant that the !e ia in !ost ne'

e!ocracies ha(e succu!"e to the #lo"al tren of u!"in# o'n3 the ne's. %his is

especially the case in tele(ision, 'here reports on cri!e an entertain!ent ro'n out the

!ore i!portant ne's of the ay. %he stress on #lit$y effects an "ite0si$e ne's reports

D Co!!ittee to 2rotect =ournalists, Attacks on the Press in 2 2 . Ne' :or)5 Co!!ittee to 2rotect=ournalists, 6;;9.

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lea(es no ti!e for serious an in0 epth iscussion of the issues that !atter. %he result is

that pu"lic iscourse is u!"e o'n as 'ell, as "oth officials an citi$ens respon to the

infotain!ent3 type of ne's they #et.

*oreo(er, in !any ne'sroo!s, e(en in affluent countries, ti#ht "u #ets o not

allo' for the in(est!ent in ti!e an resources that soli -ournalis! re uires. E(en as the

!e ia in !any countries are a profita"le enterprise, !e ia !ana#ers 'oul rather put

their !oney on technolo#y an effects rather than on reporta#e. In a ition, -ournalists

often o not ha(e the e+perience an the trainin# to o the )in of conte+tualise

reportin# that a ne' e!ocracy nee s. E(en if they i , the pecuniary an political

interests of !e ia o'ners li!it the free o! of -ournalists to con uct e+pos s.

In !any countries, o'nership of the !e ia is controlle "y a fe' (este "usiness

an political interests. A 6;;1 stu y of B7 countries "y the >orl an) sho's thatthrou#hout the 'orl , !e ia !onopolies o!inate. %he stu y says5

In our sa!ple of B7 countries, only four percent of !e ia enterprises are 'i ely

hel . Less than t'o percent ha(e other o'nership structures @apart fro! fa!ily or state

control , an a !ere t'o percent are e!ployee o'ne . On a(era#e fa!ily0controlle

ne'spapers account for D7 percent of our sa!ple, an fa!ilies control 9 percent of

tele(ision stations. State o'nership is (ast. On a(era#e the state controls appro+i!ately

6B percent of ne'spapers an ; percent of tele(ision stations. %he state o'ns a hu#e

share 8 76 percent 8 of ra io stations. %he !e ia in ustry is therefore o'ne

o(er'hel!in#ly "y parties !ost li)ely to e+tract pri(ate "enefits of control.3

In ee , !e ia o'ners ha(e not "een shy a"out e+tractin# such pri(ate "enefits. In

the ne' e!ocracies, !e ia !a#nates ha(e use their ne'spapers or "roa cast stations

to pro!ote their "usiness interests, cut o'n their ri(als, an in other 'ays a (ance their

political or "usiness a#en a. State o'nership, !ean'hile, allo's #o(ern!ent

functionaries to cla!p o'n on critical reportin# an recalcitrant reporters an ena"les

the #o(ern!ent to propa#ate its unchallen#e (ie's a!on# the people. %he interests of

!e ia o'ners often eter!ine !e ia content an allo' the !e ia to "e !anipulate "y

(este interests.

Si!eon -an)o(, Caralee *cLeish, %atiana Neno(a an An rei Shleifer, >ho O'ns the *e ia?3 raft paper for the !orld "ank#s !orld Development Report 6;;1.

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In %hailan , for e+a!ple, 2ri!e *inister %ha)sin Shina'atra o'ns the only

in epen ent tele(ision net'or) in the country. %he rest of the "roa cast !e ia is state0

o'ne or controlle , thus ena"lin# the %ha)sin #o(ern!ent to ha(e a !onopoly of the

air'a(es. Anti0%ha)sin -ournalists an co!!entators ha(e "een re!o(e fro! the air, so

"roa cast ne's is no' su"ser(ient to the #o(ern!ent. %he 2ri!e *inister has also

sou#ht to silence the (i"rant %hai ne'spapers "y puttin# the s uee$e on their a (ertisin#

@he o'ns the lar#est teleco!!unications co!pany, a !a-or a (ertiser, an has also

"anne #o(ern!ent a s in critical ne'spapers an "y initiatin# an in(esti#ation into the

assets of ne'spaper o'ners. %he result5 ac uiescence, !ute criticis! an a #eneral

hushin# of pu"lic e"ate on crucial issues.

In so!e instances, the !e ia are use as pro+ies in the "attle "et'een ri(al

political #roups, in the process so'in# i(isi(eness rather than consensus, hate speechinstea of so"er e"ate, an suspicion rather than social trust. In these cases, the !e ia

can "e anti0 e!ocratic, contri"utin# to cynicis! a"out #o(ern!ent an e!ocratic

ecay. %he pu"lic loses confi ence in the !e ia an in e!ocratic institutions in #eneral.

%he result is pu"lic apathy an e!ocratic "rea) o'n.

IV. G OOD P RACTICES : H OW THE M EDIA HAVE P ROMOTED D EMOCRACY AND G OOD

G OVERNANCE

I N *AN: NE> e!ocracies, the !ass !e ia are challen#e "y !ar)et forces, illi"eral

states, an in so!e cases, a hostile or apathetic citi$enry. :et espite these, ne's

or#ani$ations an !e ia N4Os in !any countries ha(e !ana#e to assert the !e ia&s

role in "uttressin# an eepenin# e!ocracy. %he follo'in# sections escri"e so!e of the

'ays in 'hich !e ia #roups ha(e li(e up to the e!ocratic i eal of the press as

'atch o#, pu"lic foru!, catalyst of social refor!, an "uil er of peace an consensus.

A. Investigative Reporting: The Media as Watchdog

2erhaps the !ost instructi(e case is that of Latin A!erica, 'here it is 'i ely

ac)no'le #e that sustaine in(esti#ati(e reportin# on corruption, hu!an ri#hts

(iolations an other for!s of 'ron# oin# has helpe "uil a culture of accounta"ility in

#o(ern!ent an stren#thene the fle #lin# e!ocracies of the continent. %here, !e ia

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e+posure, particularly of corruption in hi#h places, has helpe "rin# o'n #o(ern!ents.

%he o'nfall of four presi ents − Fernan o Collor e *ello of ra$il in 1BB6, Carlos

An res 2ere$ of ene$uela in 1BB9, A" ala ucara! of Ecua or in 1BB7 an Al"erto

Fu-i!ori in 6;;; − 'as ue in lar#e !easure to in(esti#ati(e reportin# on their

co!plicity in corrupt eals. Such reportin# has !a e the press a cre i"le J an

presti#ious J institution in the re#ion&s ne' e!ocracies. ecause it has functione

effecti(ely an in epen ently, the !e ia en-oy the pu"lic&s support an trust.

In Southeast Asia&s ne' e!ocracies, sustaine reportin# on !alfeasance in

pu"lic life has resulte in the ouster of corrupt officials an raise pu"lic a'areness on

the nee for refor!. In the 2hilippines, in(esti#ati(e reportin# pro(i e e(i ence that le

to i!peach!ent char#es "ein# file a#ainst 2resi ent =oseph Estra a in 6;;; an fuelle

pu"lic outra#e a#ainst his e+cesses. Estra a 'as ouste fro! office in a popular uprisin#

on the streets of *anila in =anuary 6;;1. In %hailan , in(esti#ati(e reports unearthe

e(i ence of the sha o'y "usiness ealin#s of 2ri!e *inister %ha)sin Shina'atra. In

In onesia, the press has unco(ere 'ron# oin# that le to the filin# of char#es a#ainst

hi#h officials, inclu in# the po'erful spea)er of 2arlia!ent, A)"ar %an-un#, in 6;;1.

%his success has co!e at a #reat cost. %he Ne' :or)0"ase Co!!ittee to 2rotect

=ournalists tallie 117 -ournalists )ille in Latin A!erica fro! 1BGG to 1BBG. 7 In the

2hilippines, 9 -ournalists ha(e "een slain since the restoration of e!ocracy in 1BG .G In

%hailan an In onesia, crusa in# -ournalists ha(e "een "eaten up, threatene an )ille .

>orl 'i e, 1D of the G !ur ere -ournalists in 6;;1 'ere slain "ecause of in(esti#ati(e

'or) relate to corruption. B

*ost of the !ur ers ha(e ta)en place in countries 'here the rule of la' is 'ea)

an the -u iciary is una"le an un'illin# to efen press ri#hts. ecause the courts are

ishonest an inept, the )illers sel o! #et punishe . %hose 'ho 'ish the press ill J

'hether they are officials, ru# cartels or insur#ent !o(e!ents in(ol(e in illicit tra es

or the protection of cri!e J can operate 'ith i!punity.

=ournalists, p. 1DB.

8 *a. Roselle . *iran a, %ar#etin# =ournalists,3 Philippine $ournalism Revie%, Octo"er 6;;6, pp.1 06;.

9 ettina 2eters, %he *e ia&s Role5 Co(erin# or Co(erin# up Corruption?3 in %ransparency

International, &lo'al (orruption Report 2 ), erlin5 %ransparency International, p. G. 1;


11/23

It is o"(ious that at the !ost "asic le(el, a free press J an in(esti#ati(e

reportin# J are possi"le only 'here -ournalists en-oy so!e protection. Fle #lin#

e!ocracies ha(e constitutional an le#al pro(isions to efen the press, "ut these o not

al'ays ensure that the !e ia can report 'ithout fear or fa(our. %he ri#hts of -ournalists

!ust "e uphel "y an in epen ent -u iciary an protecte "y the rule of la'. In Latin

A!erica an Southeast Asia, !any of those !ur ere 'ere the (icti!s of s!all0to'n

"osses a"le to terrorise co!!unities "ecause 'ea) states cannot enforce the la' an

pro(i e protection to their citi$ens, -ournalists inclu e .

%hat is 'hy the press often see!s cau#ht in a chic)en0an 0e## situation. Its

free o!s are not #uarantee unless other e!ocratic institutions perfor! their functions

'ellK "ut these institutions are una"le to o so "ecause there is no in epen ent chec) on

their perfor!ance, in part "ecause the press is threatene an "ullie . It is often up tocrusa in# -ournalists to "rea) this i!passe espite the ris)s.

In !any places, there is no shorta#e of -ournalists 'illin# to ta)e on this tas). ut

!any ha(e neither the s)ills nor the trainin# that in(esti#ati(e reportin# re uires.

*oreo(er, ne's or#ani$ations !ay not "e 'illin# to put in the in(est!ent in ti!e,

resources for research an the e(elop!ent of reportorial talent that in(esti#ati(e

-ournalis! nee s.

In(esti#ati(e reportin# also threatens to upset the cosy relationships "et'een

!e ia o'ners an their frien s a!on# the upper crust of "usiness an politics. 2ress

proprietors are 'ary that har 0hittin# e+pos s !i#ht turn off a (ertisers. 4i(en these

o"stacles, the only 'ay that in(esti#ati(e reports can !a)e any hea 'ay in the !e ia

free !ar)et is to sho' that they can sell ne'spapers an ne's pro#ra!s an that there is

an au ience for serious reportin#.

%he truth is that in !any countries, in(esti#ati(e reports o sell. %hey #enerate a

#reat eal of pu"lic reaction an "rin# reco#nition to ne's or#anisations. %he )ey is to

#et ne'sroo!s to initiate an in(est in in(esti#ations espite the costs an the ris)s. One

'ay is to con(ince the! of the re'ar s, in ter!s of increase au ience share, na!e0"ran

reco#nition or professional presti#e. A'ar s for in(esti#ati(e reportin# offer one 'ay to

encoura#e this tren .

11


12/23

Other, less tan#i"le "enefits are perhaps e(en !ore i!portant. Carefully

researche , hi#h0i!pact in(esti#ati(e reports help "uil the !e ia&s cre i"ility an

support a!on# the pu"lic. %he press as an institution is stren#thene if -ournalists ha(e

e!onstrate that they ser(e the pu"lic interest "y unco(erin# !alfeasance an a"use. A

cre i"le press is assure of popular "ac)in# if it is !u$$le or other'ise constraine .

Such support !ay not "e forthco!in# if -ournalists s uan er their free o!s on the

superficial an the sensational.

*oreo(er, "y constantly i##in# for infor!ation, "y forcin# #o(ern!ent an the

pri(ate sector to release ocu!ents an "y su"-ectin# officials an other po'erful

in i(i uals to ri#orous uestionin#, in(esti#ati(e -ournalists e+pan the "oun aries of

'hat is possi"le to print or air. At the sa!e ti!e, they accusto! officials to an in uisiti(e

press. Officials e(entually realise that releasin# infor!ation "enefits the #o(ern!ent.>ithout a free flo' of official infor!ation, -ournalists 'ill ten to report lies, ru!ours

an speculations, 'ith no one the "etter for it. It !ay ta)e ti!e, "ut officials !ust "e

con(ince that infor!e citi$ens !a)e "etter citi$ens, e(en if in the process #o(ern!ent

ta)es a "eatin# in the press. Any #o(ern!ent, no !atter ho' corrupt or autocratic, has

refor!0!in e officials an "ureaucrats 'ho appreciate the -ournalists& role an are

'illin# to co0operate 'ith reporters in the release of infor!ation. In the lon# ter!, the

constant #i(e an ta)e "et'een -ournalists an officials helps e(elop a culture J an a

tra ition J of isclosure.

One 'ay to -u!pstart in(esti#ati(e -ournalis! is "y con uctin# special trainin#

on reportin# techni ues as 'ell as on rea in# financial state!ents, constructin# ata"ases

an researchin# on the Internet. Se(eral national an international !e ia #roups are no'

con uctin# such trainin# pro#ra!s. *anuals for in(esti#ati(e reporters, inclu in# those

that pro(i e tips on 'here appropriate ocu!ents can "e foun an the proce ures for

accessin# the!, ar! -ournalists 'ith the tools they nee for con uctin# research.

In epen ent centres for in(esti#ati(e reportin# ha(e "een set up in ne'

e!ocracies li)e the 2hilippines, Nepal an an#la esh. %hese centres pro uce !o el

in(esti#ati(e reports, train -ournalists an pu"lish trainin# !anuals. %hrou#h these

efforts, they ha(e succee e in pro!otin# in(esti#ati(e reportin# a!on# -ournalists an

citi$ens.

16


13/23


14/23


15/23

y ecentralisin# co!!unications, Nepal s rural "roa casters ha(e sho'n that

ra io can help in #i(in# people the chance to !a)e infor!e choices an ulti!ately

stren#then the e!ocratic process. Ra io S'ar#a 'ari in the insur#ency0'rac)e an#

istrict in 'estern Nepal is such a relia"le source of infor!ation that it is staple fare for

#o(ern!ent officials, local citi$ens an *aoist #uerrillas ali)e.

%he Internet, too, has pro(en to "e a !uch !ore e!ocratic !e iu! than

ne'spapers or tele(ision, allo'in# a freer e+chan#e of (ie's for a (ariety of social

#roups. In !any ne' e!ocracies, ci(il society #roups an N4Os ha(e foun the

Internet an effecti(e tool for isse!inatin# infor!ation an opinion an also for

!o"ili$in# for protest actions. In 6;;;, in the heat of the !ass protest a#ainst 2hilippine

2resi ent Estra a, the Internet 'as a hi(e of acti(ity for Filipino acti(ists 'ho !ounte

cy"er0rallies3 an online si#nature ca!pai#ns, !o"ili$in# stu ents, the !i le class analso o(erseas Filipinos 'ho coul not participate in protests at ho!e. %here are so!e 7.D

!illion Filipinos 'or)in# a"roa , an it 'as throu#h the >e" that they )ept trac) of

e(ents an too) part in social protest.

Else'here, the >e" has ser(e as a "ulletin "oar for citi$ens. Interacti(ity, lo'

costs of entry an relati(e free o! fro! state control #i(e the Internet an e #e o(er the

other !e ia. In Central an Eastern Europe, N4Os an !e ia or#ani$ations ha(e use

the >e" to e ucate the pu"lic on elections, political parties an can i ates. For e+a!ple,

in the local elections hel in Ro!ania this year, in epen ent portals li)e Ro!ania Online

an Election.ro, 'hich 'ere set up "y Internet Ser(ice 2ro(i ers @IS2s , so!eti!es

-ointly 'ith ne'spapers, pro(i e political ne's, results of pre0election polls an other

election0relate infor!ation. So!e Ro!anian stu ents e(en put up their o'n 'e"site,

Electoral6;;;.ro, on 'hich they !ounte an interacti(e political #a!e to #et citi$ens

enthuse a"out the elections. 11

*ore tra itional !e ia li)e ne'spapers ha(e also playe an e ucational an

infor!ational role, fillin# the )no'le #e #ap that other social institutions cannot "reach.

For e+a!ple, in 6;;;, the 2ana!anian aily *a Prensa esi#ne a si+0'ee) e ucational

supple!ent to its Sun ay e ition, tar#ete at first an secon #ra e stu ents. %he paper&s

11 Ale+ /l!anu, Ro!anian Election Enters Net attle#roun ,3 in +nline $ournalism Revie%, http5MM'''.o-r.or#Mo-rMtechnolo#yM1;17B 6DB;.php.

1D


16/23

e itors "elie(e that stu ents lac)e "asic infor!ation a"out their country, so the

supple!ents pro(i e lessons on history, #eo#raphy an politics. %he contents inclu e

ne' infor!ation that stu ents coul not #et in their te+t"oo)s, so teachers use the

supple!ents in their classes an the ne'spaper onate copies to 1 ; schools. %hese

lessons on citi$enship le to a ra!atic increase in circulation an a (ertisin#, pro ucin#

healthy profits for a paper that are to perfor! its ci(ic function. 16

*e ia co!panies often "la!e the nee to co!pete in a ti#ht !ar)et for their

ina"ility to li(e up to e!ocratic i eals of the press. ut recent e+perience has sho'n this

nee not al'ays "e the case. %he In onesian ne's!a#a$ine empo , for e+a!ple,

pro(i es a 'ee)ly analysis of the ne's in a ition to ori#inal reportin# on current affairs,

pro(in# that #oo , soli -ournalis! that appeals to rea ers as citi$ens sells. empo, 'hich

is one of the !ost respecte an "est0sellin# pu"lications in In onesia, is seen as a "eacon of e!ocracy an has influence pu"lic opinion on issues of #o(ernance, hu!an

ri#hts an ethnic an reli#ious conflict. Its co!!ercial success has not "lunte the e #e

of its -ournalis!.

'. The Media as eace and Consens%s (%i#der

e!ocracy cannot thri(e in countries that are in the #rip of (iolence an strife.

I eally, e!ocracy shoul pro(i e 'arrin# #roups !echanis!s for !e iation,

representation an (oice so that they can settle their ifferences peacefully. If it is

constantly challen#e "y (iolence an issension, the fa"ric of e!ocracy 'ill "eco!e

fraye . /nfortunately, this is the case in !any ne' e!ocracies 'here the re!o(al of

state restraints has le to the re(i(al of a#e0ol en!ities once hel in chec) "y

authoritarian #o(ern!ents. %he "loo y conflicts that erupte in the for!er :u#osla(ia

pro(i e ra!atic testi!ony of this reality.

%he e+perience thus far has sho'n that the !e ia ha(e not a playe neutral role in

conflict. In !any cases, they ha(e fanne the fla!es of iscor "y ta)in# si es,

reinforcin# pre-u ices, !u lin# the facts an pe lin# half0truths. %he !e ia ha(e also

"een criticise for sensationalisin# (iolence 'ithout e+plainin# the roots of conflict. %he

!e ia i#nore peace0"uil in# efforts, critics say, e(en as they #i(e full co(era#e to

'ar!on#erin#. In so!e cases, they ha(e so'e hate speech an encoura#e (iolence. At

16 Cite in the >orl an), !orld Development Report 2 2, p. 1G6.1


17/23

the hei#ht of the conflict in R'an a in the 1BB;s, a ra io station that ha "een supporte

"y international onors "eca!e the !outhpiece of e+tre!ists 'ho fa(oure an

encoura#e #enoci e. 19

Reco#nisin# the crucial role that the !e ia play in conflict situations, !any

N4Os ha(e e!"ar)e on trainin# -ournalists in 'hat is calle peace -ournalis!,3 'hich

en ea(ours to pro!ote reconciliation throu#h careful reporta#e that #i(es (oice to all

si es of a conflict an resists e+planations for (iolence in ter!s of innate en!ities or

ancient hatre s. 2eace -ournalis! a(oi s #i(in# un ue attention to (iolence, focusin#

instea on the i!pact of 'ar on co!!unities on "oth si es of the i(i e an their efforts

to "ri #e their ifferences.

2eace -ournalis! has "een pro!ote throu#h the trainin# of -ournalists co(erin#

conflict, inclu in# -ournalists 'ho co!e fro! the (arious reli#ious or ethnic #roupscurrently at 'ar. arious N4Os re#ularly offer courses on peace -ournalis!.

Inno(ati(e approaches inclu e efforts "y the Alliance of In epen ent =ournalists

@A=I in In onesia, 'hich in 6;;1 set up in the strife0torn city of A!"on in the *oluccas

Islan s a !e ia centre 'here "oth *osle! an Christian -ournalists coul #et to#ether,

learn fro! each other an share resources. Since "loo y clashes "et'een *osle!s an

Christians "ro)e out in A!"on in late 1BB7, the press "eca!e polari$e . *osle!s,

inclu in# -ournalists, 'ere confine to the *osle! uarter of the city an ha no access

to Christian co!!unities. %he sa!e 'as true of the Christians. %his resulte in one0si e

reportin# an only ser(e to intensify the hatre s in the co!!unity. %he !e ia centre

facilitate infor!ation e+chan#es an !a e sources fro! "oth Christians an *osle!s

a(aila"le to -ournalists of (arious faiths. It also allo'e the -ournalists to #et to )no' an

(isit each other, crossin# the "oun ary that ha i(i e the city. %hese efforts are helpin#

"uil trust "et'een -ournalists on one si e an #o(ern!ent, N4Os, !ilitary an police on

the other. Such trust, in turn, has helpe consoli ate pu"lic support for the peace

process. 1

/.S. A#ency for International e(elop!ent, %he Ena"lin# En(iron!ent for Free an In epen ent *e ia5Contri"ution to %ransparent an Accounta"le 4o(ernance,3 Occasional 2apers Series, =anuary 6;;6, p. .

14 2. a!"an# >isu o, roa enin# Access to Infor!ation as a >ay of En in# >ar =ournalis!,3

paper presente in a conference on Access to Infor!ation in Southeast Asia,3 hel in Hua Hin,

%hailan , 0 *arch 6;;6.17


18/23

Another inno(ati(e effort to "ri #e ifferences a!on# (arious #roups 'as a

!ulti0ethnic reportin# tea! that 'as or#ani$e in *ace onia in 1BBD. %he tea! consiste

of one reporter each fro! a *ace onian0lan#ua#e aily, an Al"anian0lan#ua#e aily, a

%ur)ish lan#ua#e paper an a *ace onian0lan#ua#e ra io station. %he tea! i -oint

inter(ie's an fiel (isits to escri"e the current situation in *ace onia, sho'in# ho' all

ethnic #roups suffere fro! the econo!ic crisis an ho' they 'ere "attlin# for sur(i(al

in e+tre!ely har ti!es. 1D

Co!!unity ra io is especially helpful in "ri #in# the #ap "et'een co!!unities.

In Colo!"ia, a #roup of N4Os an co!!unity ra io stations for!e SI2A @Siste!a

Nacional e Co!unicacion para la 2a$ or National Co!!unication Syste! for 2eace ,

'hich operates in areas 'here (iolence in(ol(in# #uerrillas, the !ilitary an ru# ealers

is particularly intense. SI2A encoura#es the stations in its net'or) to pro uce ane+chan#e ne's that 'ill foster peace an tolerance. It also pro uces a ne's pro#ra! that

is sent (ia the Internet to 6 co!!unity ra io stations an N4O partners throu#hout

Colo!"ia.

SI2A oes not co(er (iolence an conflict as there is alrea y sufficient co(era#e

of these in the !ainstrea! !e ia. ut it reports on the after!ath an the conse uences of

conflicts an pro(i es the conte+t in 'hich the (iolence ta)es place. SI2A also tries to

articulate the aspirations of co!!unities for peace an e(elop!ent an incorporates

local cultural practices into its pro#ra!s. 1

Ra io for 2eace International @RF2I or Ra io 2a$ Internacional , "ase in Costa

Rica, pro!otes peace -ournalis! on a #lo"al scale (ia short0'a(e ra io an the Internet.

RF2I #ets its pro#ra!s fro! in epen ent pro ucers an !e ia acti(ists fro! aroun the

'orl . An in epen ent ra io station, it ai!s to enhance un erstan in# "y pro(i in# a

spectru! of (oices to a ran#e of !e ia users 'ho tune in to 6 0hour short0'a(e

"roa casts fro! the RF2I&s trans!itters in El Ro eo, Costa Rica. RF2I also !onitors an

ocu!ents hate ra io an the use of the !e ia "y e+tre!ist #roups. 17

15 Ho' >e Sur(i(e5 A series of Special Reports fro! *ace onia,3 inhttp5MM'''.!e ia0 i(ersity.or#Marticles pu"licationsMho'P6;'eP6;sur(i(e.ht! . 16 An#ela Castellanos, SI2A 5 2eace =ournalis! in Rural Colo!"ia,3 inhttp5MM'''.i rc.caMreportsMrea article en#lish.cf!?article nu!Q1;6B .17 http5MM'''.rfpi.or# .

1G


19/23

R EC)MME*&ATI)*S A*& I M +ICATI)*S $)R ACTI)*

%HE *E IA can !a)e full use of their potential to contri"ute to the consoli ation of

e!ocracy if their ri#hts are protecte . *oreo(er they nee to ha(e the re uisite s)ills for

the )in of te+ture an in0 epth reportin# that ne' e!ocracies re uire. ecause the

!e ia are po'erful, there shoul also "e !echanis!s to ensure they are hel accounta"le

to the pu"lic an that ethical an professional stan ar s are uphel . *e ia in epen ence

is #uarantee if !e ia or#ani$ations are financially (ia"le, free fro! the inter(ention of

!e ia o'ners an operate in a co!petiti(e !e ia en(iron!ent. Finally, the !e ia&s

po'er is enhance if they ha(e "roa reach in, an support fro!, society. e!ocracy

suffers if lar#e se#!ents of society are inaccessi"le to the !e ia an therefore e+clu e

fro! the arena of pu"lic e"ate.arious initiati(es 'hich ha(e contri"ute to creatin# an ena"lin# en(iron!ent

that allo's the !e ia to "e an effecti(e a#ent for eepenin# e!ocracy an 'hich

stren#then the !e ia as a e!ocratic institution inclu e the follo'in#5

rotection o! ,o%rna#ists. In !any fle #lin# e!ocracies, the !e ia "eco!e the

tar#et of reprisal fro! po'erful #roups an in i(i uals 'ho "enefit fro! the silence of a

!u$$le press. =ournalists nee to "e protecte "y la's that #uarantee their ri#hts. In

!any ne' e!ocracies, ol la's atin# "ac) fro! the authoritarian past i!pose harsh

punish!ents for li"el, restrict access to official infor!ation an i!pose strict licensin#

re uire!ents for !e ia co!panies. %he repeal of these la's an the enact!ent of !ore

li"eral le#islation can ha(e a li"eratin# effect on the !e ia. So 'ill -u icial an le#al

refor!s that ensure courts 'ill efen the ri#hts of -ournalists an punish those #uilty of

oin# the! har!.

In !any countries, press associations ha(e playe an i!portant role in

!onitorin#, protestin# an raisin# pu"lic outra#e a#ainst attac)s on -ournalists. %hey

ha(e helpe raise fun s for li"el efence, pro(i e refu#e for -ournalists in an#er of physical attac), an con ucte hi#h0le(el ialo#ues 'ith officials. In Latin A!erica since

the !i 01BB;s, the !e ia fen e off attac)s fro! officials offen e "y critical reportin#

"y for!in# national press associations. >hen -ournalists are unite in protestin# a"uses

a#ainst the press 8 an 'illin# to co(er attac)s a#ainst their collea#ues e(en 'hen they

1B


20/23

co!e fro! ri(al pu"lications, lea ers are force to hee ,3 'rote =oel Si!on of the

Co!!ittee to 2rotect =ournalists @C2= . 1G National press free o! #roups in 2eru,

Ar#entina, Colo!"ia, ra$il, 4uate!ala an *e+ico, to#ether 'ith -ournalists unions in

2ara#uay an Ecua or, ha(e "een (i#ilant in ocu!entin# an protestin# a"uses as 'ell

as raisin# a pu"lic outcry a#ainst the!.

At a re#ional le(el, the an#)o)0"ase Southeast Asian 2ress Alliance @Seapa

has 'ritten letters of protest an raise a'areness a"out press ri#hts a!on# officials,

-ournalists an the pu"lic in Southeast Asia. 1B Si!ilarly, the *e ia Institute of Southern

Africa @*isa !onitors attac)s a#ainst -ournalists an issues alerts to a net'or) of N4Os

'hene(er press ri#hts are (iolate . 6;

International #roups efen in# the ri#hts of -ournalists 8 such as Reporters sans

Frontiers, the Co!!ittee to 2rotect =ournalists, Article 1B, the International Fe eration of =ournalists an the International Free o! of E+pression E+chan#e @Ife+ 8 pro(i e ti!ely

inter(ention "y lou ly protestin# any (iolation of press ri#hts an su"-ectin# errin#

#o(ern!ents to international scrutiny.

Enhancing Media Acco%nta-i#it . %he !e ia&s cre i"ility as a e!ocratic

institution is enhance if they are accounta"le to the pu"lic, ac)no'le #e their !ista)es

an ensure that ethical an professional stan ar s are uphel . A sensational an tri##er0

happy press oes not contri"ute to intelli#ent iscussion an e"ate an soon loses pu"lic

support.

In !any ne' e!ocracies, press an "roa cast councils co!pose of !e ia

representati(es ha(e ta)en the lea in enforcin# ethical stan ar s an co es of con uct.

%hese councils !e iate "et'een the pu"lic an the !e ia. So!e hear #rie(ances a#ainst

errin# ne's or#anisations an i!pose sanctions. %he In onesian 2ress Council has also

hel ialo#ues in(ol(in# the !e ia, officials an citi$en&s #roups, so!e of 'hich ha(e

or#anise their supporters to attac) !e ia offices they accuse of unfair reportin#. y

=ournalists, 1BB6, p.6;1.1BSee http5MM'''.seapa")).or#

20 See http5MM'''.!isanet.or#6;


21/23

pro(i in# a##rie(e parties a foru! for airin# their #rie(ances an "y e+plainin# to the!

ho' the !e ia 'or), the 2ress Council hopes to !ini!i$e such attac)s. 61

2ress associations can a play a role not -ust in efen in# -ournalists "ut also in

raisin# ethical stan ar s. %he %hai =ournalists Association has issue 'arnin#s to

-ournalists a"out possi"le ethical lapses, inclu in# recei(in# #ifts fro! sources. %he

Alliance of In epen ent =ournalists in In onesia has launche an anti0en(elop3

a'areness ca!pai#n 'here -ournalists 'ear %0shirts or ri""ons sayin#, I on&t ta)e

en(elops,3 allu in# to the co!!on practice of pro(i in# reporters en(elops of cash

urin# press conferences.

In epen ent !e ia !onitors an -ournalis! re(ie's contri"ute to !e ia

accounta"ility "y assessin# !e ia perfor!ance, e+posin# unethical practices an in(itin#

the pu"lic to a ialo#ue a"out the !e ia&s 'or). So!e'hat si!ilar efforts ha(e "eenun erta)en "y 'o!en&s N4Os in (arious countries 'hich !onitor ho' the !e ia co(er

'o!en&s issues. O(erall, in epen ent efforts to 'atch the 'atch o# ha(e contri"ute to

the !e ia "ein# !ore responsi(e to pu"lic sensiti(ities an to "e !ore (i#ilant a#ainst

lapses in professional con uct. In turn, a professional press is a !ore effecti(e 'atch o#

an foru! for pu"lic e"ate.

(%i#ding Media Capacit . In nearly all countries that ha(e un er#one a

e!ocratic transition since the 1BG;s, it is 'i ely ac)no'le #e that a !a-or factor that

ho""les !e ia e(elop!ent is the lac) of s)ills. Ne'spapers an "roa cast stations

li"erate fro! the constraints i!pose "y ictatorship fin that reportin# on a e!ocracy

re uires ne' s)ills an fresh talent. Free o! alone oes not suffice. =ournalists ha(e to

"e 'eane a'ay fro! reliance on press releases, press conferences an infor!ation

!inistries. %hey !ust learn ho' to 'rite 'ith epth an insi#ht an also "e a ept in a

(ariety of fiel s.

Ne'sroo! trainin# in !any ne' e!ocracies is sorely lac)in#. So!eti!es, press

institutes, uni(ersities an !e ia N4Os pic) up the slac). *any onors no' fun

trainin# pro#ra!!es, an !any initiati(es, such as -ournalist e+chan#es, ha(e "een

e(elope . ut these o not suffice. It ta)es ti!e to e(elop a hi#hly s)ille corps of

61 At!a)usu!ah Astraat!a -a, In onesia5 2ress Free o! in a Fle #lin# e!ocracy,3 in !atchin- the!atchdo-: Media .elf/Re-ulation in .outheast Asia, an#)o)5 Southeast Asian 2ress Alliance, 6;;9, p.D60D7.

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-ournalists that a professional press re uires an ne'sroo!s too often a" icate their

responsi"ility to ensure the a (ance!ent of reportorial talent 'ithin their ran)s.

In so!e countries, the pro"le! is that ne's or#anisations re!ain reliant on state

su"si ies an so cannot "e truly in epen ent. In other cases, it is not the state "ut 'ealthy

"usinesspeople 'ho su"si ise the !e ia, 'hich en up "ein# !outhpieces for their

interests. Ne's or#anisations !ust 'or) to'ar financial (ia"ility so they can "uy their

in epen ence. As a stu y on the !e ia in Central an Eastern Europe an the ne'ly

in epen ent states of the for!er So(iet /nion reco!!en e , ne's or#anisations shoul

"e #i(en trainin# in financial !ana#e!ent as 'ell as assistance in settin# up a (ertisin#

an "usiness epart!ents. *e ia o'ners, the stu y sai , nee foru!s to 'or) out

arran#e!ents such as circulation au its, a (ertisin# rates an pro uction an istri"ution

net'or)s.366

%he *e ia e(elop!ent Loan Fun "ase in 2ra#ue #i(es out loans an

assistance to help stru##lin# !e ia co!panies in ne' e!ocracies "eco!e financially

(ia"le. %he Fun also arran#es for in(estors 'ho 'ill infuse ne' capital in these

co!panies an intro uces ne' technolo#ies that 'ill help enhance their (ia"ility.

&e"ocratising Access. %he !e ia can "e effecti(e only if they are accessi"le to a

'i e section of the population. Other'ise, they only e+acer"ate the !ar#inalisation of

social sectors that ha(e access neither to the !e ia nor to the centres of 'ealth an po'er. Efforts to e!ocratise access inclu e su"si in# co!!unity an local !e ia,

especially in poor an re!ote areas or in places 'here #roups, such as in i#enous

peoples, ha(e tra itionally "een at the !ar#ins of social life. %he Nepal 2ress Institute,

for e+a!ple, has pioneere in the esta"lish!ent of co!!unity0pu"lishe 'all

ne'spapers, 'hich are !ounte in co!!unity centres in the re!ote reaches of that

!ountainous country. Else'here, co!!unity ra io an s!all ca"le % stations ha(e

allo'e #roups not represente in the national !e ia to ha(e a (oice for airin# their

#rie(ances an aspirations.

Su"si ies that ena"le poor co!!unities to purchase co!puters an ha(e Internet

access or co!!unity centres that pro(i e Internet access at !ini!al cost help re uce the

66 Free o! House, *e ia Responses to Corruption in E!er#in# e!ocracies5 ula#aria,Hun#ary, Ro!ania, /)raine,3 p. 1;, http5MMfree o!house.or#MreportsM!e iat+t.ht!l .

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#ap "et'een sections of the population that ha(e can affor the ne' technolo#y an those

'ho cannot. 2u"lic li"raries or rea in# roo!s that allo' citi$ens to rea ne'spapers,

especially in places 'here they cannot affor to "uy the!, also help !a)e the press !ore

a(aila"le to a 'i er au ience. *a)in# the !e ia a(aila"le to a "roa se#!ent of society

helps re ress lon#0stan in# social ine uities an #i(es representation an (oice to

citi$ens so they can participate !ore !eanin#fully in pu"lic life.

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