public interest
Society's collective welfare
Public interest refers to the general welfare or common good of society at large, as distinct from private or individual concerns.
Laws, policies, and journalism often invoke public interest to justify actions that serve the community: The documents were released in the public interest.
What constitutes the public interest is frequently contested—governments claim it when restricting information, while journalists claim it when exposing secrets.
A public interest lawyer works on cases affecting broad social issues rather than private disputes.
Official enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- reformImprove by correcting faults
oversight · accountability · transparency · bureaucracy · compliance · statute · amendment · bills
Guard or monitor
- investigative reportingJournalism exposing hidden truths
- press freedomRight to publish uncensored
- transparencyState of being see-through
- disclosureAct of revealing information
whistleblower · sunshine laws · FOIA · media · broadcasting · editorial · newsroom · fact-checking
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
litigation · constitutionality · redress · remedy · rights · legal aid · class action · standing
Status as state member
- democracyRule by the people
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- votingFormally registering a choice
- participationAct of taking part
engagement · representation · townhall · referendum · petition · grassroots · activism · volunteerism
Organization serving public good
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
- grantBestow or award money
donation · bequest · patronage · sponsorship · social enterprise · pro bono · trust · donor
Public financial protection programs
- food stampsSubsidized grocery purchasing vouchers
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- housing assistancePrograms helping afford shelter
- basic needsRequirements for survival
poverty · homelessness · shelter · subsistence · safety net · childcare · disability benefits · nutrition programs
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- governanceHow authority is exercised
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
reform · oversight · accountability · transparency · bureaucracy · compliance · statute · amendment · bills · enactment
watchdog
Guard or monitor
- investigative reportingJournalism exposing hidden truths
- press freedomRight to publish uncensored
- transparencyState of being see-through
disclosure · whistleblower · sunshine laws · FOIA · media · broadcasting · editorial · newsroom · fact-checking
due process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
adjudication · litigation · constitutionality · redress · remedy · rights · legal aid · class action · standing · judicial review
citizenship
Status as state member
participation · engagement · representation · townhall · referendum · petition · grassroots · activism · volunteerism · suffrage
nonprofit
Organization serving public good
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
grant · donation · bequest · patronage · sponsorship · social enterprise · pro bono · trust · donor · grantmaking
social security
Public financial protection programs
- food stampsSubsidized grocery purchasing vouchers
- unemploymentBeing without paid work
- housing assistancePrograms helping afford shelter
basic needs · poverty · homelessness · shelter · subsistence · safety net · childcare · disability benefits · nutrition programs · universal healthcare
- interestcuriosity, fascination, attention, concern, stake
- pressnewspaper, press laws, free press, newsroom, press cards
- social sciencessociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, political science
- activismboycotts, activists, activist, advocate, demonstrating
- communityneighbors, neighborliness, neighborhoods, kinship, community centers
- community valuescommon good, solidarity, social cohesion, diversity, mutual respect
public interestself-interest
Concern for personal advantage
special interests · vested interests · greed · corruption · self-dealing
public interestpersonal business
public, interest, interested, publish, interesting, publication, publishing, published, publisher