The media contribute to monitoring of the electoral process by keeping the public informed about electoral events and the political campaign. The media also play an important investigative role that helps to ferret out electoral fraud and corruption. Conditions Required for Media Effectiveness Several conditions must be met for the media to serve as an effective integrity mechanism. They must have access to the electoral process and its participants. They must have a safe environment enabling them to investigate and report news without fear of intimidation or retribution. And they must be able to publish their reports without censorship. Specifically, the media require the following:

• Freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The media must be free to cover and report on election events without restriction or censorship. Anti-defamation laws should not be used to threaten journalists and force them to limit their coverage.
• Protection from intimidation and violence. The media must be able to investigate and report stories without intimidation or fear of violence.
• Freedom of movement. Journalists must be able to travel freely throughout the country in order to follow candidates’ national campaigns and check how election administration is working in outlying areas.
• Access. Journalists must have access to election officers, electoral sites, candidates and voters. They must have access to government information in order to investigate and ensure that their work is accurate.
• Equal treatment. The media should be treated equally, whether they are privately owned or government-controlled. Equal treatment is needed in access to persons, electoral sites, information, printers, and paper and printing supplies, as well as issues concerning licensing and radio/television broadcasting time.

Media Protection and Oversight

The media have gained a degree of protection as international monitors. For example, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has appointed a Representative on Freedom of the Media. The Representative observes the state of media freedom in all 55 OSCE member countries, and promotes compliance with OSCE principles and commitments concerning freedom of expression and media freedom. [1]

Some non-governmental organizations focus on protection for journalists. National and international observers may also monitor press freedom and the accuracy of election reporting. In the first and second rounds of the 2004 presidential election in Ukraine, government officials limited the media’s ability to report certain issues and events. The result was biased media coverage favouring the presidential candidate of the ruling party. It was only in the second runoff election, after challenges before the Supreme Court regarding the validity of earlier election results, that the censorship was discontinued and media coverage became more balanced. [2]

Impact on Election Integrity

Good media coverage of the electoral process can help in various ways:

• It increases transparency, which deters fraud and abuse of the process. Transparency also helps to improve the electoral process since inconsistencies, problems or other deficiencies are identified and publicized, forcing electoral administrators and policy makers to correct them. In India, for instance, the media are encouraged to cover elections as a way of helping to ensure transparency. The Election Commission of India provides the media with the facilities needed to cover the electoral process, and distributes passes allowing journalists to enter polling stations and vote counting stations.
• It makes the public more knowledgeable and better informed about elections, candidates and current issues. Election coverage in the press and its analysis of candidate platforms provide voters with the information they need to make an informed choice on election day. Press coverage also informs voters about the date of the election, voting hours and polling site locations.
• It exposes fraudulent or questionable conduct. The media act as an integrity watchdog, uncovering fraud and corruption. This helps to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions. It also helps to deter those who might be tempted to behave in an unethical or illegal manner.

NOTES

[1] Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Representative on Freedom of the Media.

[2] Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Ukraine, Presidential Election: 31 October, 21 November and 26 December 2004. OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report, Warsaw, May 2005.