TITLE:
Media and Governance in Fragile Democracies: Reporting Corruption, Human Rights, and Peacebuilding through the Media-Governance Accountability Triangle (MGAT)
AUTHORS:
Chernor Mohamadu Jalloh
KEYWORDS:
Media, Governance, Accountability, Corruption, Human Rights, Peacebuilding, Fragile States
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: The media is widely recognised as a cornerstone of democratic governance, contributing to transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. In fragile and post-conflict democracies, however, its effectiveness as a governance actor remains uneven. This paper examines the role of media in reporting corruption, human rights, and peacebuilding, using Sierra Leone as an illustrative context. Drawing on democratic accountability theory and normative media theory, it introduces the Media-Governance Accountability Triangle (MGAT) as an original analytical framework. The MGAT conceptualises media-driven governance outcomes as dependent on the convergence of three interdependent pillars: informational power, normative legitimacy, and institutional responsiveness. Using a qualitative, desk-based approach, the study synthesises empirical and theoretical literature to show why media exposure alone rarely produces accountability. The findings demonstrate that sustainable governance outcomes require alignment between investigative capacity, ethical journalism, and responsive institutions. The paper contributes a context-sensitive framework with direct relevance for media reform and democratic consolidation in fragile democracies.