ACE Electoral Knowledge Network

Media and Elections Quiz

1. Which of the following steps would you take first if you were drawing up a communications plan?
   
   

   Decide how many press releases to issue.
   Define your message and audience.
   Develop a media strategy.
   

2. Which of the following is an advantage of an equitable system of allocating direct access by political parties?
   
   

   It allows the most widely supported parties to be heard most clearly.
   It gives all parties an equal chance to get their message across.
   It is simplest to implement in a transitional democracy.
   

3. Which of the following arguments is most commonly used in favour of paid political advertising?
   
   

   It allows the freedom of expression of political parties.
   It creates a level playing field between parties.
   It raises the quality of political debate.
   

4. Which of the following statements best sums up contemporary jurisprudence on protecting the reputations of politicians?
   
   

   The law should give politicians greater protection of their reputation than ordinary citizens.
   The law should give politicians the same protection of their reputation as ordinary citizens.
   The law should give politicians less protection of their reputation than ordinary citizens.
   

5. Which of the following are not among those who must be consulted about involved drafting a law or regulations on media coverage of elections?
   
   

   Political parties.
   People with disabilities.
   International aid donors.
   

6. Which of the following obligations will apply only to publicly owned and not to private media?
   
   

   They will abide by the law on defamation.
   They should be open to direct access by all political parties or candidates.
   They should offer the same advertising rates to all parties or candidates.
   

7. Which of the following is generally regarded as the most professional and responsible approach to reporting inflammatory political speeches?
   
   

   Report the speech accurately, but add context and balancing comments.
   Refuse to report the speech.
   Report the speech accurately.