by Sam Miller

Created on: November 03, 2008

Government candidates should hold press conferences to answer questions from the media and public in an open, transparent and Democratic Government. One of the tenets of a democratic government is openness and transparency in the conduct of the affairs of government. The foundation upon which most democracies were built was on the freedom of expression in their Constitutions. The United States is no exception, at the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers of the American Constitution, in the Bill of Rights stated so explicitly; "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are born with certain inalienable rights, right to life, right to freedom, right free speech, and such rights are God given rights which ought to be protected by the Government". The basis of every Constitution is the protection of these rights. The freedom of speech or expression is one of the rights that are fundamental to a democracy. The media and the public have a right to know from Government officials who are accountable to the public on the workings of the Government. It is only through the media and at press conferences that this can be done. The Press are the watchdogs of the society and for there to be a good democratic Government the media should not be unduly fettered, the press should be vibrant and given certain liberties within the confines of the laws of defamation.

The Press have certain rights and obligations and its should not unduly trample on the citizens rights to privacy, however, where there is a public right to know that right supersedes any private right. The passage in certain jurisdictions of the Freedom of information Act which makes Governments more accountable to the people and gives the citizens the right of access to information is a very welcomed development in those Countries that have enacted such legislation, which includes many of the developed democracies in Europe and in the United States. The bastion of any democracy is a free Press, once the Press is suppressed it would spell doom to democracy and freedom, the problem in Countries such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, China, Russia, and Myanmar is that the Press have been suppressed, and journalist killed for publishing reports critical against the Government, Freedom and democracy can never flourish in such Countries. Once the Press is censored or made to be mouthpiece of the Government, the truth is compromised and the citizens rights will be trampled upon and eroded.

The only answer to good governance is to have a vibrant and free press that would be a watchdog for the society. The actions of Government could be scrutinized by the question and answer sessions with the media and public. Government officials including the President would be invited to brief the Press on the domestic and foreign policies, the economy, and important matters of State the that the public have a right to know about. It only when there is a transparent and open Government that democracy and good governance would be able to thrive.

Learn more about this author, Sam Miller.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.