Media Oversight in the Procurement Sector: Effectiveness and Institutional Responses

Abstract

Introduction. Amid increasing demands for transparency and accountability of state institutions, anti-corruption journalism is becoming an important instrument of public oversight. Its effectiveness requires scholarly reflection not through content analysis but through verification of its outcomes.

Research relevance. To date, there is a lack of analysis of the mechanisms by which media investigations are transformed into documented managerial and legal decisions, as well as of the nature, pace, and forms of institutional responses to «Nashi Hroshi» publications (January–September 2025). The aim of this study is to assess the level and nature of the effectiveness of media analytics as a tool of public control by examining verified institutional responses.

Research Methods. The research applies the method of qualitative case analysis to a purposefully selected and exhaustive sample of cases, as well as temporal and geographical analysis to identify the effectiveness of media oversight in the field of public procurement, to determine the time lag (from publication date to first institutional response), and to describe the spatial coverage of media monitoring. The empirical base includes 14 publications that elicited institutional responses. The target case sample was analyzed according to the following scheme: topic, publication date, date and type of response, and time lag.

Results. The study empirically identified the level and nature of media oversight effectiveness in public procurement based on «Nashi Hroshi» cases. A range of institutional reactions was recorded, including contract termination, price reduction, cancellation of procurements, amendment of regulatory acts, and detention of suspects. The level of effectiveness was assessed in terms of temporality. The speed of institutional response correlates with the degree of public resonance and reputational risk. Significant variations in time lags were observed (up to 568 days). Geographically, media oversight encompasses both national and regional levels, demonstrating the institutional scale and sustainability of public monitoring mechanisms over public funds. Capital-based cases prevail due to the concentration of governmental institutions, yet there is a clear trend toward expanding anti-corruption monitoring to regional levels. The heterogeneity and limits of media oversight effects indicate the adaptability of corrupt practices and the need for continued monitoring after institutional reactions occur.

Conclusions. Anti-corruption publications serve as an effective catalyst for institutional change in the sphere of public procurement. Documented institutional responses represent a measurable indicator of media effectiveness. The speed and depth of such responses depend on the degree of public resonance and the nature of the violations.