Final answer:
New whistle-blowing laws such as the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 have indeed made tips and complaints more effective by ensuring that whistleblowers can safely report wrongdoing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether new whistle-blowing laws have made tips and complaints more effective is complex, but evidence points to affirmative developments. Starting from the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, government officials have been working towards providing protections to federal whistleblowers. This act was instrumental in setting up the Merit Systems Protection Board to investigate abuses and protect those who shed light on bureaucratic misdeeds.
Later on, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 further cemented these protections, encouraging individuals to report wrongdoing without fear of reprisal. These legislative advancements have made it more feasible for whistleblowers to come forward with information that could indicate hazards at the workplace, corporate wrongdoing, or government inefficiencies.
Moreover, the media play a pivotal role in ensuring transparency, aided by sunshine laws and the concept of the reporter's privilege, which allows journalists to keep sources confidential. High-profile cases such as Valerie Plames's and Edward Snowden's leaks demonstrate the increased willingness of whistleblowers to provide information, largely due to existing legal protections and media practices.