Watchdog press

Monitoring and holding the powerful accountable, as independent “watchdogs,” news media detect abuses and malpractices and bring them to light with the goal to strengthen democratic governance. Even if the role of journalists as detached watchdogs seems to be dominating in most Western countries, in many developing and authoritarian contexts the press is not yet able or willing to move away from a role of opportunistic “lapdog” at the service of the powerful. Following the “hierarchy of influences” model of journalism, a system of three embedded levels is discussed—the political and social structure, the media market, and the specific journalistic culture—that shape the quality of political journalism and the role of journalists as independent watchdogs.