SUMBAD, MIKEE P’

BA BROADCASTING-1A

When we say corruption, government is the first thing that comes to our mind. It is an

illegal behaviour committed by powerful people such as government officials or police officers.

This issue is very controversial in the social media cites that everyone is talking about and

starting to make comments or judgement to them. It is also the reason why watchdog exist,

because there are many people who are curious and want to know the real situation regarding an

issue about the government. The media is always there wanted to expose every story that was

never been told and shown to the world. One of its roles in a democracy is that of watchdog over

government. The idea is that the press should dig up facts and warn the public when officials are

doing something wrong. Citizens can hold officials accountable for setting things right only if

they know about errors and wrongdoing. Also it is expected to reveal abuse of state and authority

and protect the constitutional rights of the citizens. Being a watchdog as the public’s eyes and

ears can’t underestimate. This is one of the hardest jobs I know because it monitors the day to

day working of governments and examining its performances. Watchdog reporting also covers

sex and personal scandals to financial wrongdoing political corruption, enrichment in public

office and other types of wrongdoing. It only explains that both individuals and institution is the

involve target of the watchdoggers. They’re investigating the issues that are happening within an

institution and on a particular person who commit corruption and other illegal issues in the

government. The watchdog only want to ensure that the individuals and institutions are supposed

to serve the public remain transparent and held accountable to their responsibilities as part of the

government. Because I believe the watchdog and the government has the same goal for the

people and for the society in the first place. Problem just occur in the government because of
some officials that get money for their own interest and desires, even it’s not their own money

and property. While for the watchdoggers, other has some interest in money and wanted to be

known that’s why some evidences and information were not revealed. It only shows that we need

to criticize the news that we read and analyse if they are factual or not. Because a simple person

can also be a media practitioner in his/her own way.

According to Dr. Shailendra Singh, people need to be informed to be able to analyse

government’s performance, and people need to be fairly informed to able to make a right

choice.1 Because if people were informed of the governments conduct or policy, they could

choose to either vote the government out or keep it in power. That’s why it is important that we,

the media, scrutinise both the government conduct and policy on a regular basis.

Therefore, the news media is an important role and crucial pillar democracy in any

country. Without it, the government is no longer as accountable to the people. And media is one

way to communicate with the people and have connection to them. It only means that

government also use media for their interest to promote themselves and present their projects,

activities and other matters in the society. But they overused the essence of media, they used as a

market to buy and sell. Because nowadays the two word give and take is very famous in the

business world. It also implies in media, information are not free and sometimes money is

needed for you to get what you u to know. And the government use their power, influence and

money to buy the media.

So for all media practitioners like broadcasters, journalist and watchdog that are

accountable in their job you all have my support and respect. And made me realize to continue
my studies and be like a real broadcaster who is unbiased and always believing on what is right

for the people.

CRITICS ON THE ARTICLE: Corruption and the Watchdog as the Role of News Media

This article are composed of topics about the faces of watchdog reporting, watchdog and

government, watchdog and market, watchdog and the profession, watchdog’s impact, watchdog

dark side, and policy recommendations. Each of the topics was explained by the author and

emphasizes the supporting evidences with the sources link. It also had contradiction between

present and the past, supported with the examples that also help the reader to understand the

context.

There are many examples from different country regarding the watchdog cases and the

similarity of it in other countries and in recent time. The author also emphasize the role of

watchdog in the media and what they cover.

The first page