It is easier to change the government’s working style, wherever media coverage and supervision are available. If the media only praises the government’s achievement, it will be very difficult for officials to serve the people’s needs, says an article of the People’s Daily. Excerpts:

It takes a long time to improve the government’s working efficiency and change its working style. Strengthening media coverage of the government’s issues and letting the public have access to supervise officials’ actions can give corrupt officials nowhere to hide.

Transparency can promote the regular operation of powers. There are two kinds of transparency, passive and active. The government has the obligation to society to make its operations transparent to the public. And the media’s and the public’s supervision are effective ways to make the government’s obligation come true.

That some officials are less worried about “internal critics” than media exposure drives home the message that self-supervision of the government does not work.

The media’s and public’s supervision are more timely, impartial and sensitive than the internal supervision mechanism in the government system. In recent years, food safety issues, environmental problems and many corrupt officials have been exposed first by the media and the people, instead of by relevant functioning departments of the government.

The judicial authority also has its role to play in the process, to ensure that the government’s practice of powers does not infringe upon public interests, and press freedom of individual parties does not harm other parties’ legal rights and interests.

The rule of law is the foundation for the anti-corruption struggle. The media’s and people’s supervision should be based on that legal foundation.