|
|
|
B. Guidelines on party election broadcasts and political advertisements
1. Definitions
1.1 Party election broadcasts are free time slots allocated to
political parties/contestants to inform the electorate of their
policies.
1.2. Political advertisements are paid for advertisements intended
to advance the interests of any political party.
|
2. Guidelines
2.1 Broadcasters shall where applicable in terms of country laws
afford political parties/contestants equitable and fair access
to party election broadcasts and political advertisements.
2.2 Broadcasters shall ensure in such instances that they develop
transparent formulae for calculating the allocation of air time,
including the amount of time and the time of broadcast, to be
provided to individual political parties/ contestants.
2.3 Broadcasters shall timeously develop guidelines on submission
of such party election broadcasts and political advertisements
including details of the required formats and technical standards.
Broadcasters shall publish them widely.
2.4 Broadcasters shall develop transparent mechanisms and procedures
to ensure that political advertisements and party election broadcasts
are not unilaterally edited or amended without consent of political
parties and contestants. Such alterations are only possible if
such advertisements or broadcasts do not comply with reasonable
technical standards, laws of the country or any electoral codes.
2.5 Should a political party or contestant in such instances
refuse to edit or amend such advertisement or broadcast, the
broadcaster has the right to refuse to air it. Broadcasters should
be indemnified by political parties/contestants against any cost,
damage or loss incurred or sustained as a result of any claim
arising from such broadcasts or advertisements.
C. Implementation of these Guidelines and Principles
In order to effect implementation of these guidelines and principles,
broadcasters will:
1. Develop editorial codes and policies or review existing codes
using these guidelines as minimum standards, and ensure awareness
of such codes.
2. Publish these guidelines and any other internal codes to enable
the public to monitor the performance of the broadcaster and
hold it accountable.
3. Establish internal complaints procedures to channel and resolve
complaints from the public. Broadcasters will encourage aggrieved
parties to use existing independent arbitration mechanisms.
4. Ensure proper planning and resource allocation for election
coverage.
5. Ensure that staff members are adequately trained in order
to fulfil obligations as required by these guidelines and principles.
D. Requirements for the implementation of these Guidelines and
Principles
In order to adhere to and implement these guidelines and principles,
broadcasters require:
1. To be allowed to operate in an environment free of violence
and intimidation. All electoral stakeholders must respect the
rights of broadcasters to cover the elections. Any electoral
institutions shall make all stakeholders aware of the role of
broadcasters.
2. Adequate, additional state funding for coverage of the election
period through government, parliament, and or any electoral commission.
Back
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
