Abstract The claim that media ‘simulate’ political transparency is misleading. It suggests that the ‘simulated’ exists in opposition to the ‘real’ or ‘true’ and, in turn, that transparency should give access to a political reality or ‘truth’ otherwise distorted. This truth or reality is, however, illusory. Transparency should be seen as a process of requiring persons in relations of community with others to account for their actions, understandings and commitments as regards matters directly relevant to those relations. Such an approach denies any simple public‐private divide, emphasises breach of trust in (diverse kinds of) relations of community as the justification for publicising personal conduct and circumstances, and treats scandal (as a matter of legitimate news) as the public revelation of these breaches of trust.