The Democratic Watchdog

By Brooklyn Leschyshyn

Freedom of the press is essential for accountability in a democracy. The media amplifies the voices of the people and holds those in power accountable. Journalism serves to inform the public while also expressing the public's opinions. With this great responsibility comes the need for great care; thus, reporting must be truthful and fair to genuinely benefit the people.

Investigative journalism has uncovered injustices and compelled accountability from governments, large corporations, institutions, and social entities. A society cannot be fully democratic without the voice of the public. Social media and traditional journalism work together to reveal stories that the public needs to hear.

While a free press is crucial in a democracy, concerns arise when the media fails to uphold its role as the voice of the public and does not report in a democratic manner. Investigative journalists who adhere to democratic principles hold power accountable through the stories they present, which can drive social change, ensure accountability, and reform institutions.

Journalism, over the decades, has been central to Democracy. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the free press to help maintain a balance of power within government. In Canada, a well-informed public is fostered through the provision of accurate and credible news, with journalism serving as a watchdog for the populace. Canada has demonstrated its commitment to a free press by co-hosting the Global Conference for Media Freedom in July 2019 in London, United Kingdom. Additionally, the Government of Canada is engaged in the Global Pledge on Media Freedom and collaborates with the Media Freedom Coalition, which is part of the UN General Assembly's initiative to support journalistic rights. While democratic countries uphold the importance of a free press, many nations still face restrictions on press freedom under authoritarian regimes and dictatorships.

Indonesia serves as a prime example of the crucial role journalists play in fostering an informed public. From 1968 to 1998, the country was under the authoritarian regime of President Suharto. During this time, Suharto utilized the constitution and legal framework to control language, media, and the populace. (McCoy, 2019). Under his rule, uncertainty loomed over the citizens, and the media operated under constant threat. Journalists faced numerous dangers, including media bans, dismissal from their jobs, and imprisonment for reporting against the regime. (McCoy, 2019). 

These oppressive measures greatly impacted public discourse, leading many to mistakenly believe in the perfection of Suharto's reign. "Suharto was building a comprehensive apparatus for media control that included both formal administration and ideological justification." (McCoy, 2019). This ideological manipulation polarized public opinion, resulting in a lack of diverse representation. Dissenters faced severe punishment, while compliant media outlets unwittingly concealed and perpetuated human rights abuses during Suharto's time in power. 

The Asian economic crisis of 1997 exposed Suharto's false claims of economic superiority and ignited protests from student movements, sparking national debate and revitalizing journalism in Indonesia. (McCoy, 2019). Protesters rioted in Jakarta, calling for Suharto's resignation. As journalists refused to conform to the regime’s demands, they played a pivotal role in educating the public about the nation's economic bankruptcy. 

In May 1998, Suharto resigned, but not without the loss of over 1,200 lives in the fight for democratic reform. "Aware of the fragility of this political moment, representatives of print and broadcast media moved immediately to secure legal protection for their new freedom and overhauled the New Order's apparatus of regulatory controls." (McCoy, 2019). This legal protection bolstered the establishment of a free press. Journalists in Indonesia are committed to safeguarding democracy by educating the public about political injustices. Their courageous efforts contributed significantly to the overthrow of an oppressive regime.

Investigative journalists, like those in Indonesia, play a crucial role in holding institutions accountable. Their job is to reveal the shameful misdeeds of these institutions to the public. In "Democracy's Detectives: The Economics of Investigative Journalism," Hamilton (2016, p. 23) explains that "the concepts of public goods and positive externalities help explain the nature of demand for hard news investigations," which include coverage that chronicles the operations of public and private institutions. 

The stories reported by journalists can drive social change, influence policy, and hold individuals accountable, potentially leading to government reform. Hamilton notes that the timeline of investigative journalism often begins with the muckraking era of the early 1900s, highlighting classic works by authors such as Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, and Upton Sinclair. Magazines like Collier's, McClure's, and Cosmopolitan published exposés that fueled the Progressive Era (Hamilton, 2016, p. 23). These exposés were pivotal to the careers of journalists, as figures like Tarbell, Steffens, and Sinclair brought public attention to widespread corruption (Hamilton, 2016, p. 23).

The Progressive Era arguably laid the groundwork for notable investigative journalism, such as the Watergate scandal. The Watergate scandal ultimately led to Richard Nixon's resignation, largely due to journalistic efforts. Although there is ongoing debate about how central journalism was to the Watergate coverage, the reporting was credible and had a profound impact on the United States and the world. 

Watchdog journalism thrived in the 1970s, prompting journalists to investigate and hold institutions accountable (Hamilton, 2016, p. 23). Unfortunately, investigative journalism is often costly and lacks support from advertisements and institutions. Despite a public demand for watchdog journalism, it frequently goes ignored.

No matter what people do in public, their actions can be captured in an instant. Technology has equipped ordinary citizens with professional recording devices. Those who were once mere observers can now become reporters. A passerby can record footage using high-resolution phone cameras and post it online, holding those in power accountable for protecting democracy. Citizen journalists can collaborate with professional journalists to provide valuable information to the world. These stories may contain different details, overlooked evidence, and various perspectives compared to what professional journalists capture. As noted by Allan and Thorsen (2009), “Citizen journalism invokes the ordinary citizen to play an active or integral role in collecting and disseminating news through various media platforms.” The unique perspective of a citizen journalist enhances our understanding of events.

Democracy fosters the growth of citizen journalism, while authoritarian regimes create environments that are extremely dangerous for these citizens. According to the study "Gatekeeping and Citizen Journalism: The Use of Social Media during the Recent Uprising in Iran, Egypt, and Libya" published in Media, War & Conflict, citizen journalists often face harassment, intimidation, and even murder for their reporting. Although technological advances have enabled citizen journalists to share information without government interference, political elites have become adept at controlling these advances, limiting the influence of citizen journalists. For instance, citizen journalism began in Vietnam in the early 2000s, primarily through chat rooms and forum discussions (Ali & Fahmy, 2013). Journalists and citizen journalists work hand in hand to convey messages for social change.

During the 2022 protests in Iran, both citizen journalists and professional journalists played crucial roles in holding the government accountable and informing the world. The protests were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by the morality police for violating Iran’s hijab laws and subsequently died in prison after suffering mistreatment. Outraged citizens took to the streets, chanting slogans such as "Death to the dictator," "I swear by Mahsa's blood, Iran will be free," and "Khamenei is a murderer; his government is invalid" (The Guardian, 2022). The protests quickly spread to social media, attracting global support. Journalists in Iran documented the arrests and brutality faced by protesters, sharing this information rapidly around the world. As reported by The Guardian, "The security forces have also threatened to arrest Kurdish activists if they participate in protests and strikes. At least five female activists have been detained in Sanandaj, and two civil activists in Marivan. Mobile phone signals and the internet were cut off in several cities in Kurdistan" (The Guardian, 2022). This movement garnered international support, raising awareness of the injustices occurring in Iran and influencing assistance from other countries. Without the efforts of both journalists and citizen journalists, the Iranian government would likely have concealed its actions from the world.

Journalism plays a vital role in informing the public and supporting democracy, but careless journalism can be detrimental to democratic processes. The 2016 presidential election in the United States captured global attention, particularly due to the surprising candidacy of a reality TV star. This unusual spectacle drew massive crowds and prompted intense media interest in Donald Trump. As the world watched the election unfold, the media began to focus extensively on Trump. 

In Democracy Without Journalism?: Confronting the Misinformed Society, Pickard (2020) notes, "Donald Trump's ascendance and the 2016 U.S. presidential election revealed a number of structural pathologies in the U.S. news and information systems, especially toxic commercialism that prioritizes profit over democratic imperatives." The rising trend of covering entertainment as political news marked a troubling shift in political journalism in the United States and beyond.

Fox News, one of the most-watched television channels during the election, played a significant role in awakening the Republican "outcasts" that Trump needed to secure his victory. The media recognized what attracted viewers and responded by focusing on Trump's controversial antics rather than the policies of all candidates. According to Pickard, Trump's media coverage was nearly three times greater than that of Hillary Clinton and sixteen times more than Bernie Sanders (Pickard, 2020). As a result, news media acted like campaigners for Trump, and the race for profit benefited his campaign more than that of any other candidate.

This situation undermined a key aspect of democracy: the public's ability to make informed electoral choices. Instead of providing critical information about candidates' policies, media coverage often emphasized sensational stories. Misinformation spread rapidly across the internet, exacerbated by social media's lack of control. Trump's slogan "Fake News" ironically highlighted the problem, as both his campaign and the media's actions contributed to public distrust in credible information sources.

Ultimately, Trump won the election, and his approach to the media further complicated the public's relationship with journalism. Journalists now face significant challenges, including a lack of funding for the press and increasing social media influence, which complicates their ability to perform their essential role in democracy. 

The responsibility of journalists is to inform the public, observe events, record information accurately, and hold governing bodies accountable. Trustworthiness is crucial for journalists, as they provide the information needed for the public to make informed decisions. Historically, journalism has been instrumental in ensuring accountability and advocating for social justice, leading to positive change. A functioning democracy relies on the freedom of the press to fulfill this important mission.