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The Role of Media in Improving Democratic Governance
governance equation, which depends equally on efficient public
services, a robust civil society and an active media.
In Bolivia, IRI has been working since 2004 to “promote improved
relations between elected leaders and citizens.”
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After working
alongside local officials to strengthen their capacity through trainings
on best practices in local governance, they launched the
Sábados
Vecinales
(Neighborhood Saturdays) radio show in the municipality of
Sucre and
Transparencia
(Transparency) in the municipality of Potosí
in 2008. These programs were aired during peak times in the areas
covered by the broadcasters.
The broadcasts came as a result of institutional strengthening initiatives
provided to the local governments and were part of a multi-faceted
citizen engagement strategy, which also included the creation of local
transparency offices and institutional websites that provide online
services to citizens. The radio shows have since been continued by new
municipal administrations and similar programs have been developed
in Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala.
According to Mexican intellectual and first counselor of the president
of the Federal Electoral Institute, Jose Woldenberg, in modern
democracies it is impossible to operate a system of government without
media. Woldenberg stated:
“Actually, it can be said that there are no mass politics
(in other words, modern politics) without media. On
the other hand it can also be said that there is no mass
media not related somehow to politics. This situation
begets the search for new relations between what could be
labeled the desirable power of the media and democratic
institutions.”
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In Colombia, this media platform is used to encourage competition
among local governments, rewarding innovative government practices
that improve quality of life in 1,102 municipalities across the country.
