Abstract
This paper critically examines how media in the post-transformation countries of the Central and Eastern European region fulfil their normative role as "watchdogs of democracy," particularly in relation to political corruption, which is regarded as one of the most palpable issues that the new democracies are coping with. Empirically, the paper is based on an expert survey conducted in 2012 in eight Central and Eastern European countries, on field interviews with investigative journalists, as well as on a frequency analysis of media salience of corruption and the trends in the prosecution of corruption in the Czech Republic.
Drawing on the results from both parts of the empirical study, the paper suggests that the media have the best chance of fulfilling their watchdog role and enforcing accountability when supported by the effort of other accountability institutions made up of a network of actors mutually reinforcing each other in their efforts to curb political corruption.