'Free press most effective in controlling corruption'

'Free press most effective in controlling corruption'
By Nomusa Michelo
Sunday September 16, 2007 [04:00]

A FREE press is probably the most effective institution to control collusive corruption, University of Zambia head of Mass Communication department Ken Makungu has said. Speaking on Friday night during the "Integrity in public life discussion forum" organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) titled: “The role of the media In Promoting Good Governance vis-a-vis the fight against corruption”, Makungu said with a free press, independent journalists had the incentive to actively investigate any wrongdoing.

“Other bodies such as the judiciary or even watchdogs such as the Anti-Corruption Commission may be less effective, unless their internal incentive structures are closely aligned with the goal of discovering and prosecuting corruption,” he said.

Makungu also said if the press was free and competitive, it may not be possible to buy some journalists but this would only increase the incentive for other journalists to detect such arrangements and publicise them.

“The more involved a corrupt arrangement, the more fame an investigative journalist can earn by uncovering it,” he said.
And Press Freedom Association of Zambia vice-president Amos Chanda said the press’ role as a watchdog to those entrusted with public trust was crucial.

“Those entrusted with public duty do not always abide by the decency of public trust. When they veer off, the role of the media is to provide checks and balances,” he said. “The temptation to abuse public trust which results in bad governance will come from intoxication of power, greed, some people who simply like populism who want to sustain a populism culture.”

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia vice chairperson Zarina Geloo said the media, like any other industry, tends to have biases.

Geloo said some media houses reflected their preferences for certain politicians or personalities in articles of positive writing.
“Unfortunately, this trend has morphed from just media bias to media corruption,” she said.

“Where media bias is a breach of fundamental journalistic standards that could lead to loss of public trust, media corruption uses criminal devices to manipulate or defraud the public and destroys our societal moral fabric.”

Geloo said in time the media could cease to be a reliable tool for information but could become a powerful tool for fraud and manipulation.

ACC director of prevention and education Kayobo Ngandu said the ACC is drawing up an anti-corruption policy, which has reached advanced stages.