The
question of who is or is not a practising journalist is one best left to
journalists' organizations - although some governments, through an Information
Ministry or similar body, have a system for accrediting journalists. Whatever
the merits of these different systems, however, sometimes an accreditation
system is required for journalists in elections specifically. This is because
the media will be entitled to attend events - such as material transportation,
or the count – which might not be open to ordinary members of the public.
The
preferable system for accreditation of journalists in elections is one that is
conducted jointly by the electoral supervisory body and the media regulatory
body (if any). Accreditation should be available to all representatives of local,
national, and international news organizations on production of credible
identification. The accrediting authority should have no discretion to refuse
credentials to any bona fide news representative.
The
requirement to provide access to accredited media staff should be conveyed to
the police or any other body responsible for security in the elections, as well
as with electoral staff. Credential I.D.s often consist of a laminated
photocard, clearly identifying the bearer as a media representative. Guidelines
should also be made known to the political parties, who in turn are expected to
ensure their members and supporters facilitated (and did not impede) access by
anyone bearing media credentials. In Timor Leste in 2012, journalists were
required to present credentials as follows:
Accreditation shall be granted against
presentation of a personal identification document, a professional certificate,
a certification issued by the media organ for which the media professional
works, and the duly filled in identification form to be made available by STAE
[the Electoral Commission].[i]
When
the approximate date of an election is known in advance, accreditation of most
local journalists can be organized in time to avoid a last-minute rush. There
should be no limit on the number of media personnel issued with accreditation.
News organizations have no obligation to limit the number of journalists who
are accredited, although it would be reasonable for organizers of an event to
limit the numbers from a particular news organization allowed into any
particular event or location if that is necessary to secure access for the
widest range of media.
Although
a photocard - visible evidence of accreditation - is no doubt useful at many
public events connected with elections, this should only be required as a
precondition for attendance in two circumstances:
- when the security of the
electoral process is at stake - as at the voting or the count,
- when logistics determine
that only a limited number of journalists can have access.
In the
latter case, it will be up to the journalists themselves to operate a pool
system, whereby they will select which of their representatives attend an event
and they then share the information gathered. Election officials can also set
up a rotation to ensure that some journalists are always present, allowing the
journalists to decide among themselves who will benefit from the various time
slots made available.
In
other words, accreditation is for the most part an administrative tool that
only very occasionally has a security dimension. In general, the principle that
anyone can have access to the public electoral process and write or broadcast
about it is the paramount one.
[i] “Code of Conduct for Media Professionals for
Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, No. 09/Stae/X/2011,” National Electoral Commission (STAE) webpage,
http://www.unmit.org/legal/RDTL-Law/Public%20Inst-Regs/09-STAE-X-2011.pdf
