The media
are essential to democracy, and a democratic election is impossible without
media. A free and fair election is not only about the freedom to vote and the
knowledge of how to cast a vote, but also about a participatory process where
voters engage in public debate and have adequate information about parties,
policies, candidates and the election process itself in order to make informed
choices. Furthermore, media acts as a crucial watchdog to democratic elections,
safeguarding the transparency of the process. Indeed, a democratic election
with no media freedom, or stifled media freedom, would be a contradiction.
In
order to fulfill their roles, the media need to maintain a high level of
professionalism, accuracy and impartiality in their coverage. Regulatory frameworks can help ensure high
standards. Laws and regulation should guarantee fundamental freedoms essential
to democracy, including freedom of information and expression, as well as
participation. Meanwhile, provisions such as requiring government media, funded
out of public money, to give fair coverage and equitable access to opposition
parties, help ensure appropriate media behavior during elections.
The media
have traditionally been understood to refer to the printed press as well as radio
and television broadcasters. In recent years however, the definition has become
broader, encompassing
new media including online journalism, and social media. Citizen
journalism is widely gaining traction, including in countries where traditional
media is either controlled or strictly regulated.
