Fri Medias Effekt På Korruption : - En komparativ studie av tillgångens betydelse för fri medias effektivitet i kampen mot korruption

This paper aims to study the importance of media accessibility, as it is conceptually defined by current research, for the relationship between free media and corruption. Previous studies have determined that a free, independent media plays a vital role in not only curbing corruption but also in sustaining and monitoring a healthy democracy. They have also confirmed that there is a significant correlation between the degree of press freedom and the degree of corruption, in which a freer press has a negative impact on the conditions for corruption. Nevertheless, press freedom and independent media, as said studies have established, cannot be seen as an easy solution or a “quick fix” when fighting corruption. More recent studies have concluded that accessibility is a dimension that could possibly determine how effective the free, independent media is for fighting and preventing corruption. This paper aims to dig deeper into this theory. The purpose of the study is to distinguish what kind of role media accessibility plays in maximising the free medias effectiveness in the role as a watchdog towards public power. This study hopes to achieve it’s purpose by analysing what the direct effects and consequences of media revelations surrounding corruption cases has resulted in for different countries in relation to the degree of accessibility. The study will also take into account the distinction between rule-based versus relationship-based cultures and how corruption can be perceived and viewed differently between the two. This perspective is to be seen as a complementary outlook and possible explanation when determining if the potential dissimilarities in the effects of media revelations amongst countries are due to differences in accessibility or due to inherent cross-cultural differences. Our work has shown clear differences in the resulted effects of media revelations. However, it is impossible to identify whether the variations among countries in regard to actual effects depend on the degree of accessibility or due to inherent cross-cultural differences between nations.