Although
a regulatory system will probably make a distinction between public and private
media, a number of aspects of the law or
regulations governing the media in elections are likely to affect both sectors.
These may include:
- An expedited procedure for
hearing complaints against the media by the public or political parties;
- Any regulations relating to
the reporting of opinion polls;
- Policies relating to
"hate speech", defamation, media liability for the statements of
politicians and other related issues;
- Any policy on news
blackouts before or during the election;
- Journalists' right of access
to election events;
- Accreditation of
journalists;
- Provisions to ensure the
safety of journalists.
A
regulatory authority may place different obligations on the private and public
media over matters such as whether they carry voter education or direct access
materials. But a usual practice is that where private media carry such coverage
- even when they are not obliged to - they should conform to the same standards
of equity and impartiality as the public media.
