• Exploring the role of citizens, the media and civil society in fostering transparency and accountability in government,
• Highlighting the mechanisms and vehicles that enable citizens to engage in fostering good governance at the local, state and federal levels,
• Enhancing the understanding of ethical systems and accountability in government and business.
The group represented 12 African nations from the Congo to Madagascar and Senegal and included journalists, judges and anti-corruption non-profit organizations.
While at Elon University, the group visited the Elon Poll. Polling director Hunter Bacot told the group that monitoring public opinion is one way that public officials can better understand how receptive the community is to policies and processes established. One attendee asked if the poll asked “neutral” questions because in his country polling was often biased and only the wealthy had telephone land lines.
“Each country would have to consider the best means for gathering public opinion,” Bacot said, “but for the survey to have any validity the questions would need to be neutrally posed and those sponsoring the poll willing to be transparent about the results.”
Participants also asked to see how the polling data collected in North Carolina was used by the media and what influence the information had on local politics.
“We can’t always track the impact,” Bacot said. “We read and watch the media coverage of the data and we know politicians are aware of it, but there’s not a hard line between the two. The study of public opinion is complex, but imperative in a democratic society.