Thread by @docrussjackson

Given the extent of #ToryCorruption scandals, print or broadcast news or politics editors, journalists or presenters who care about Britain more than money should read: 'The Role of the News Media in Fighting #Corruption Practices: A Case Study of Spain'.

tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.108…

Extensive scholarly & other expert literature, including a number of reports from international organizations, highlights the role played by the #media in creating an atmosphere that discourages #corruption practices, & in promoting good governance & controlling corruption.

This study explores how the topic of corruption enters public debate & outlines the conditions that might help to explain the role played by the media in curbing corruption.

It is argued that both a *substantive* AND a *pluralistic* debate on #corruption are necessary.

A *substantive debate* is when the media spreads knowledge about corruption causes, consequences & possible remedies: “the media has a responsibility to inform citizens in a way that not only provides oversight but also fosters meaningful debate about issues facing the state”.

A *pluralistic debate* is when a number & range of voices are allowed to speak in the media. The (news) media is supposed to serve as an ethical watchdog: press freedom may work to control corruption by allowing a plurality of interests to manifest themselves openly in a society.

However, while the existence of a critical mass of civil society organizations that favour a system of ethical governance is important for combating #corruption, they can't be effective if their voices do not reach public debates, or they are themselves biased or corrupt agents.

A content analysis of 4361 online news articles show media coverage of corruption in Spain is not based on a substantive frame nor promotes pluralistic debate. The dynamics that might help to curb corruption were absent in the news articles of a news agency & partisan newspapers.

#Framing theory suggests “an issue can be viewed from a variety of perspectives & be constructed as having implications for multiple values or considerations”.

The research shows how when the media informs about #corruption, it mainly employs *episodic* & not *thematic* frames.

The distinction is important because the use of a particular #frame influences citizens’ perception of both the attribution of causal responsibility (i.e., who is causing the problem of corruption) & the treatment responsibility (i.e., what has to be done to solve the problem).

When an *episodic* frame is used to present an issue through individual stories, individuals are more likely to be blamed for a particular situation, which can lead to the illusion that corruption is a personal responsibility & will disappear when the perpetrators are convicted.

This type of *episodic framing* coverage is common in societies with a tendency towards scandalizing the issue with a “politics as entertainment” depiction of corruption that contributes to trivializing a key political issue: 'scapegoating as a mechanism of issue containment'.

Frames of this type suppress substantial public debate & policy reforms.

However, when a *thematic frame* is used, stories depict the general conditions & context of a given issue, & the government & society as a whole are seen as responsible & consequently held accountable.

This type of *thematic frame* is more likely to be associated with a more effective implementation of anticorruption measures & meaningful policy reforms: the (news & politics) media can only perform their role as mobilizing agents effectively if they report in thematic frames...

..contributing to an informed citizenry, motivating thoughtful public discussion, & encouraging public learning & participation in the political process.

Are you beginning to see why a tabloid-dominated press & a dumbed-down broadcast news & politics media is so bad for Britain?

The media should promote thoughtful debate about corruption: only if the media actively promote a frame oriented towards defining the problem, diagnosing causes, making value judgments & suggesting remedies, will they contribute effectively to placing limits on corrupt behaviour.

Some authors have emphasized the need to consider the routines & everyday practices of journalism, & the symbiotic & sometimes all too cosy relationships that exist between the press, senior journalists, & political elites.

Thoughtful debate might be discouraged because of market driven dynamics, which promote a focus
on drama & personalization rather than abstract ideas & in-depth debates because these do not attract audiences.

Blame for scandals is attributed mainly to individuals & not institutions because this makes stories more attractive/easier to understand. This gives the media the role of conveyors, rather than as platforms that critically filter & analyse public problems & governmental actions.

Substantive frames also respond to an exchange between political elites & the media. When substantive frames start at the top political level & reach cultural resonance, they tend to dominate political thinking & communication.

But when they're absent, this is challenging.

In the UK, market segmentation & the fact that most newspapers have an international audience also explain their focus on business corruption &
cases abroad.

Our sensationalist press also tends to focus on corruption cases in sports rather than politics.

The effective control of #corruption requires credible actors to denounce it, actors that speak on the behalf of those who lose from the corruption practices.

Civil society organizations could play a key role in
this process.

They can contribute to the coordination of anticorruption protests, apply pressure for govts to implement anticorruption policies & ensure policy reforms are maintained over time.

But a strong & ethical civil society must be complemented by the existence of true media freedom.

This particular research shows that media stories identifying corruption causes, consequences & solutions are almost non-existent in the Spanish media outlets analysed, & that in Spain, a pluralistic debate does not exist.

In Spain there is an absence of open public debate with a plurality of actors & contrasting policy proposals on how to combat it: stories on corruption scandals predominate - public debate is monopolized by judiciary & political actors associated with mediatized corruption cases.

Britain appears to be currently experiencing an epidemic of #ToryCorruption. How citizens attribute responsibility for, identify causes of & propose solutions to corruption, is profoundly shaped by the trust in & quality of their country's print & broadcast news & politics media.

An informed citizenship with access to impartial & honest news, with substantive debate over thematically frames issues, is essential for a functioning & ethical #democracy - an outrage-driven, dumbed-down partisan click-hungry news media is the antithesis of what Britain needs.

This THREAD is based on 'The Role of the News Media in Fighting Corruption Practices: A Case Study of Spain', by Anna Palau & Jesús Palomo (2021), supplemented with information relating to concerns about #ToryCorruption, & changes to the UK news media.

tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.108…