Presentation Example: Journalism Is Our Weapon Against Corruption

General Purpose: To create awareness of the role played by the media in the fight against corruption.

Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about the importance of the role of the media and specifically, Journalism in the fight against corruption in our society through pointing some of the various examples of corruption that is directly associated to reduction or even elimination using the media.

Thesis Statement: There are various forms of corruption that are experienced in the society today which can both be avoided and solved through the intervention of the media since they easily reach the community and share the discus with and educate the general public on the effects of corruption and the role every individual can play towards elimination and avoidance. There will be a presentation of the different ways in which journalism provide a critical means of dealing with corruption and corrupt vices in the society.

Introduction

A. Attention Getter:

The role of the media and particularly journalism in the society can be viewed from various dimensions which many at times may tend to differ from one individual to another depending on the experience and the exposure of a person. The variation in the in the interpretations translates to different techniques that can be applied in the fighting and the controlling of the impacts caused by the corruption from the media side. There are cases of corruptions which are experienced both in the media houses as well as to the society, and all depends on the media for their control. There have been instances that have been experienced in the in various parts of the globe that assist in the fighting of corruption. An excellent example in which media and particularly journalism can be used to fight corruption is a when a group of two hundred participants of the Global Youth Anti-Corruption Forum in the year 2012 were involved in in the fighting of corruption through media interaction both in Brasilia and all over Egypt as they wanted a change in the regime (Spence. (2017). Using the digital skills that were available at the time which included social media, activists could interact and share how to fare on the various activities towards fighting of corruption.

B. Reason to Listen

When the media through the journalism as the mouthpiece of the industry prepares content that should be consumed in the society, it is evident that it is expected to a direct impact to the individuals who consume them. When consuming the news from the media, the buyers and the listeners should be aware that there are elements that should be observed. Despite that there is need to have a free and independent media, it is essential to understand that crucial ingredients of democracy should be applied which do not imply that the media should be unbiased. Majority of the individuals who are in the media sector are aware of the various political, social and economic spectrum where a source of information sits. Together with understanding the source of information, the credibility, reliability and the impact of the data can place in the societal framework.

C. Credibility Statement:

There have been instances where the media have failed in presenting what is credible and accurate in the perspective of the society which denies the consumers the right to information that is worth listening. It is when one particular journalist is involved in a bias or a mischievous activity that the consumers will end stating that journalism and media sector is corrupt. To maintain the credibility and the respect that has been set aside for the journalism sector, it is essential for all the stakeholders to take part in pointing out and giving solutions that can be applied in life situation in the society. Any media house in which journalists are attached to should be in the lead to ensure that they create confidence to the audience since they are the only ones with a broader coverage and access to various sources of information (Woodward, 2009).

The radical transformation that is taking place in the media landscape in the digital era has brought about instances where journalism has started undermining the purpose not forgetting to mention the power that has been granted to a free press.

D. Thesis & Preview of Main Points:

Two scenarios are common in the society today that is seen to limit the watchdog role of the media in society today. First, the independence of the media and journalism have been censored from the dictatorship form of governance of the state. Secondly, the dominant commercial bodies that act as stakeholders in journalism sector tend to determine the fate of the content that is aired. There should be a clear demarcation between what does not foster corruption and that that contributes to the vices in the community.

Main Points Discussed

I. Journalism as A Tool to Expose Corruption

A. Corruption as A Result of Lack of Lack of Professional Accountability and Transparency in The Journalism Industry.

1. Corruption, like any other vice, thrives in secrecy and lack of transparency.

To ensure professional accountability, transparency is necessary. In society, the power structure is composed of the government, the judiciary, religion and the media. Media plays a vital role in society because it has access to large numbers of people. These people can be mobilized and informed about social developments.

Accountability in the course of journalism duties should be embraced in that whenever the persons involved in the activities are questioned on what their actions have to do with the in the promotion of harmony in the society they can be in a position to give details that will at long last stand as the plain truth.

2. One branch of the media involved in reporting and mobilizing citizens about social development is investigative journalism.

Investigative journalism requires undercover investigation to reveal violations, inequalities and other social vices in the society, which reinforcing social values and preventing or reducing instances of corruption.

Because of the independence of media houses in many countries, such investigation is never interfered with, and knowledge of an investigation is only known after it has been concluded.

II. Journalism as a Tool to Educate the Public

B. Communication of The Laws That Are in Place to Fight Corruption

1. The government officers only seem to assist individuals who are parting way with small amounts of money which create a vacuum that requires being filled.

To many individuals every single day especially in developing countries where the rule of law is not observed. Such individuals do not know what to do or where to go or what right they possess and the legal steps to take. This brings the importance of education and its significance in reducing corruption.

2. Role of international media

a. The Transparency International notes that where there are high illiteracy levels, people do not know about their right. When faced with injustice, uneducated individuals do not know the process to follow to obtain justice, and they are the most affected by corruption. Journalism can play an essential role in educating a society. Journalists have access to lots of resources that ordinary individuals do not.

3. Specialization in journalism

a. There has also been a rise in the specialization of journalists where some specialize in specific areas and file reports in their areas of expertise. Such journalist plays an essential role in educating their viewers. A journalist who specializes in civil or constitutional law can investigate, interpret, and decimate information around the civil law to audiences in a language and manner they can understand (Vaidya, 2005). Therefore, even if individuals in society are uneducated, they can be informed of their fundamental rights and the steps to take in seeking justice if their rights are violated

III. Journalism as A Tool to Highlight Effects and Consequences of Corruption

C. Media Points on The Various Impacts of Corruption.

1. Journalism as a deterrence tool

Journalism can be used as a deterrence tool which results in prevention of corruption by highlighting the effects of corruption on the economy and the society. Corruption cases make news headlines and citizens can be informed how corruption affects service delivery (Starke, Naab & Scherer, 2016). It is from such information that the public can be mobilized in fighting corruption in the public or private sector.

Journalists need to be present during the sentencing of criminals found liable for corruption charges. By highlighting the consequences of corruption, deterrence among the target group among the public may be achieved.

2. Trends in the Global Perspective

In the United States, there has been a sustained campaign on the reporting of anti-corruption cases by dominant media houses. Notable cases extensively covered in September 2017 include the following. Alere Inc. case where the medical company agreed to pay a USD 13 Million settlement for fraud charges (Ethic Intelligence, 2017).

In Europe, Addax Petroleum Company paid a USD 32 million settlement to the Geneva prosecutors office for bribery charges in the last couple of decades (Cooper & Mills, 2006).

Conclusion

Summarily, the discourse revolved around the three routes in which reporting can help in the battle against defilement. The study incorporated the part of news coverage as an instrument to uncover defilement, instruct individuals about their rights and in featuring the impacts and results of debasement. The three ways tended to my proposal explanation, which was: "To show the diverse courses in which news coverage give basic methods for managing defilement and degenerate indecencies in our general public." I would have wanted to cover substantially more. However, the time dispensed to my introduction couldn't permit. Notwithstanding, I challenge, everybody here today that when we backpedal to our classes, homes, and groups to comprehend that defilement is a malady that has a massive risk to each of us. While news-casting gives us approaches to handling defilement, we ought to likewise step up and say no to debasement through our words and activities.

References

Cooper, D., & Mills, A. (2006). European Anti-Corruption Agencies: Protecting the Communitys Financial Interests in A Knowledge-Based, Innovative and Integrated Manner.

Ethic Intelligence (2017). Certifying excellence in anti-corruption compliance since 2006. Accessed, 22 October 2017. Retrieved http://www.ethic-intelligence.com/compliance-tools/102-anti-corruption-case-law/Spence, E. H. (2017). Corruption in the media. In The Handbook of Business and Corruption: Cross-Sectoral Experiences (pp. 453-480). Emerald Publishing Limited.

Starke, C., Naab, T. K., & Scherer, H. (2016). Free to Expose Corruption: The Impact of Media Freedom, Internet Access and Governmental Online Service Delivery on Corruption. International Journal of Communication, 10, 21.

Vaidya, S. (2005). Corruption in the media's gaze. European Journal of Political Economy, 21(3), 667-687.

Woodward, R. (2009). The organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Routledge.