Watchdog

Definition

In the context of political science and media, a watchdog refers to the role of the media in monitoring, investigating, and reporting on the actions of government officials and institutions to ensure they do not abuse power or engage in corruption. The media acts as a guardian of public interest, alerting society about any misconduct or policy failures.

Related terms

Investigative Journalism: A form of journalism where reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, such as serious crimes, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing.

Accountability: The principle that individuals, agencies, and organizations (public or private) are held responsible for their actions and may be required to explain them to others.

Transparency: The practice of making information available to the public in order to ensure that government officials and institutions are conducting business in a way that is visible and understandable to citizens