Anticorrp

Many smaller and larger cases have been published related to broadly understood corruption, or suspicions/criticism related to unethical, controversial and uneconomic behaviour, probably more properly defined as abuse of office or cronyism rather than the “standard” process of taking bribes or kickbacks. Clearly, although it was mostly the media that reported on many of these cases, very few cases were acquired by the media themselves as a result of their own long-term painstaking investigation. Most often, the story arose out of leaks from the source (Petková, 2013). Mihočková (2013, interview) estimates that as many as 90% of sources on corruption stories are coming from leaks/tips. Some of the most important corruption cases have been revealed by various NGOs or bloggers (including journalist/bloggers). Some corruption cases were revealed by the police or, after a change of government, by the new government. Many cases, especially grand corruption cases, had their source (or found an opportunity) in various EU funding schemes. Nevertheless, the media by and large enjoyed audience trust, though with some variations related to the media-type (e.g. radio broadcasting has been traditionally more trusted than television broadcasting or even printed press).