The very word “scandal” has a negative connotation. The dictionary definition says scandals are “associated with a disgraceful action or circumstance, or an offense caused by fault or misdeed” – and therefore, by definition, scandals damage someone’s reputation. No one wants to be involved in a scandal.
But: What if something good could actually come out of a scandal? Could some scandals become the source of good news?
When it comes to the disclosure of financial and business interests by public officials, the eruption of a scandal evidently can produce positive results.
From the United States in the 1970s to the recent scandals involving high-profile public figures in France, along with countless other examples worldwide, many high-profile scandals provide the impetus for the establishment or reform of disclosure systems. Initially, scandals push the issue of public officials’ integrity to the forefront of public debate. Discussions get heated up by colorful articles in the media about public officials’ wealth, both legitimate and illegitimate.
But, fortunately, some countries manage to keep their focus on the most important aspects of public officials’ financial misdeeds, without becoming distracted by breathless media gossip about the size of their bank accounts or vacation homes. Some countries take the opportunity to realize that an effective disclosure system requires the real attention.
↧
When ‘Scandals’ Bring Good News
↧