Purpose

The media is described as a fourth estate of the realm due to its ability to frame and shape discussions on governance and provide a stimulus for fighting corruption. But is the media really an effective tool for fighting corruption? This question arises due to the possibility of the media being used for propaganda, biased reporting and media owners’ and journalists’ engagement in corruption. The current study addresses the question by exploring the relationship between the media and corruption from the perspectives of Ghanaian justice and anti-corruption officials.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a qualitative approach by interviewing justice and anti-corruption officials across three administrative regions in Ghana.

Findings

The results show that while justice officials describe the media as a medium for accusing officials unjustifiably and exaggerating the scale of corruption, anti-corruption officials believe the media helps to fight corruption. In addition to uncovering and exposing public officials’ corruption, the media is also a double-edged sword characterised by intra-vigilance: the media hold “their own” (i.e. journalists fighting corruption) accountable through criticism and exposure of wrongdoings.

Practical implications

The double-edged nature of the media can strengthen and enhance the fight against corruption because anti-corruption actors and journalists will be cautious as misjudgements or errors committed will not be overlooked or concealed by the media. Therefore, anti-corruption agencies in Ghana can collaborate with the media to uncover and expose corruption committed by public officials and even journalists or media owners.

Originality/value

This study is the first in Ghana to explore the relationship between the media and corruption from the perspectives of justice and anti-corruption officials. The approach, frameworks and methodology adopted in this study can be applied in similar studies in other countries on the African continent and beyond.

中文翻译：

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媒体与腐败之间的关系：加纳司法和反腐败官员的视角

目的

媒体被描述为该领域的第四产业，因为它有能力构建和影响治理讨论并刺激反腐败。但媒体真的是反腐败的有效工具吗？出现这个问题的原因是媒体有可能被用于宣传、有偏见的报道以及媒体所有者和记者参与腐败。目前的研究通过从加纳司法和反腐败官员的角度探讨媒体与腐败之间的关系来解决这个问题。

设计/方法论/途径

该研究采用定性方法，采访了加纳三个行政区的司法和反腐败官员。

发现

结果显示，虽然司法官员将媒体描述为无理指控官员和夸大腐败规模的媒介，但反腐败官员认为媒体有助于反腐败。除了揭露和揭露公职人员的腐败行为外，媒体也是一把双刃剑，其特点是内部警惕：媒体通过批评和揭露错误行为来追究“自己”（即反腐败记者）的责任。

实际影响

媒体的双刃剑性质可以加强和加强反腐败斗争，因为反腐败者和记者会保持谨慎，因为媒体不会忽视或隐瞒所犯的误判或错误。因此，加纳反腐败机构可以与媒体合作，揭露和揭露公职人员甚至记者或媒体主的腐败行为。

原创性/价值

这项研究是加纳首次从司法和反腐败官员的角度探讨媒体与腐败之间的关系。本研究采用的方法、框架和方法可应用于非洲大陆及其他地区其他国家的类似研究。