1. When does corruption become scandal?
The purpose of this paper is to highlight when corruption becomes scandal. It shall
give the basic definition of scandal and examples of scandals, mostly from within political
systems. The main purpose however is to examine how corruption becomes a scandal.
Essentially there are three types of scandals, sexual, financial and power (Ekström, M.
and Johansson, B. 2006). These three types of scandals are mostly seen in political systems
and are significant examples of how visibility can damage reputation and symbolic power
(Ekström, M. and Johansson, B. 2006). Within recent year’s scandals have arguably come
further into the media limelight. The media is constantly trying to further increase the
transparency of politicians and hold them accountable for their actions in the public eye. This
is what arguably separates corruption from a scandal as a scandal is more exposed in media
lime light and the public eye.
Ekström, M. and Johansson, B (2006) concept of talk scandal refers to the mediatized
talk’s central significance for modern political scandal. The article (Ekström, M. and
Johansson, B. 2006) proposed that the media create scandals in three different ways. The first
is called first order talk. Ekström, M. and Johansson, B (2006) argue that this is where talk
creates the scandal. The second is second order transgressions. This is essentially where the
scandal originates in the medias review and and revelation to the public. This primarily refers
to sexual, financial and power scandals. The third discussed by Ekström, M. and Johansson,
B (2006) is the dramatization of scandals.
The validity of Ekström, M. and Johansson, B. (2006) argument can be seen from
scandals such as Watergate and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. The Watergate scandal
changed from political corruption to political scandal due to David frost investigating Nixon
and bringing his corruption into the publics eye. The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal however was
reported to the media who then exposed the scandal to the public.
Thompson (2000) argues that a scandal must have 5 characteristics. These are: 1.
breaking or transgression of moral codes 2. actions occurring behind closed doors becoming
exposed 3. the actions arose offense and indignation among those who learn of them 4.
individuals choose to express disapprovingly by revealing the transgression 5. the revelation
of publically expressed criticism poses a threat to the individual who committed the
transgression (found in Ekström, M. and Johansson, B. 2006). Ekström, M. and Johansson, B.
(2006) argue that the difference with talk scandal is that it is not behind closed doors.
Ekström, M. and Johansson, B. (2006) make a slightly different argument to
Thompson (2000) in that they argue that scandals are not always committed being closed
media, unlike Thompson (2000). Ekström, M. and Johansson, B. (2006) argue that scandals
are created in the media. This is arguably the difference between a scandal and corruption.
In conclusion it is clear that most corruption does become corruption, however it is
primarily in the political system relating to sexual affairs, finance and power. It is also clear
to conclude that corruption becomes scandal when it is discovered and or reported by the
media and reported. However, it is unclear whether the corruption happens behind closed
doors as Thompson (2000) argues or if it is created by the media as Ekström, M. and
Johansson, B. (2006) argue. It is possible to conclude that scandal happens in both ways
however it is not a scandal until the media has reported or exposed it.

2. References
Ekström, M. and Johansson, B. 2006 “Talk scandals”
Thompson 2000 “scandal and social theory” found in Ekström, M. and Johansson, B. 2006