Linking watchdog journalism and nonprofit accountability
Nonprofit business models often pop up in our coverage, and in recent weeks we’ve run a series on the relationship between non-governmental organizations and the news ecosystem. But here’s something we’ve only touched on in passing: the decline of investigative journalism and its impact on nonprofit accountability. Pablo Eisenberg, senior fellow at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, explores this issue in the Fall 2009 edition of Carnegie Reporter.
It’s interesting to see concerns about journalism’s watchdog role addressed through a different perspective. Here’s an excerpt from Eisenberg’s essay:
The crisis in accountability in recent years has become all the more acute as the number of operating nonprofits has grown enormously and the sector has assumed even greater responsibility for society’s well being. Public expectations are greater than ever. Public confidence in their performance and integrity is, of course, the key to nonprofits’ ability to raise money. While most nonprofits are honest and transparent, the small number that are not can stain the reputation of the entire field. That is why there must be oversight mechanisms to ensure that both nonprofit organizations and philanthropic foundations operate ethically and effectively. The loss of daily newspapers and the investigative journalism they have traditionally provided will make this task much more difficult.
Mac Slocum | Nov. 19, 2009 | 1 p.m.
Tags: Carnegie Corporation, Carnegie Reporter, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, NGOs, nonprofit, Pablo Eisenberg, watchdog reporting
This is an important topic, particularly in small towns and cities, and particularly in places where the “arts economy” is being touted.
In these places, public money is going to organizations whose boards may or may not know how to manage these funds effectively, and/or develop effective business plans.
Small town papers, who often turn these stories over to their arts reporters, often don’t have the expertise to cover these developments effectively, or worse, the papers themselves are in the cheerleading roles rather than watchdogs of public money.