Learning Objectives
Why parliament and the media need each other

After studying this unit you should be able to:

• Detail the contribution both parliament and the media make to democratic governance;

• Understand what constitutes a strong professional relationship between parliament and the media;

• Point to constructive ways that parliament can build trust, and, in turn, foster a good working relationship, by assisting the media in the performance of their function;

• Identify when the parliament or the media have become either too adversarial or too close to each other, thereby jeopardizing the relationship.

Introduction and Overview

Why is it important for parliament and the media to work well together? What might happen if they don’t or if the work too closely together? The purpose of this module is to highlight the importance of a good working relationship between parliamentarians and journalists.  The key to these parties fulfilling their duties to their respective constituencies is to build a strong professional relationship based on mutual respect and recognition –both are essential actors in a working democracy.  If the relationship between them is either adversarial or too close, parliament and the media run the risk of undermining the public’s ‘right to know’ and hampering the development of an informed society.