A number of countries have opted to create a specialized body whose responsibility is to regulate media during election periods - that is, it is neither a general election administration body nor a general media regulatory body. This option has been seen most often in transitional elections in which the role of the media is expected to be particularly problematic for some reason.
Thus South Africa in 1994 established an Independent Media Commission in addition to a widely respected Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The law establishing the IMC went to some lengths to ensure the independence and competence of the commission through its membership. The chairperson was to be a judge or senior lawyer, while at least two other commissioners (out of a maximum of seven) were to have media experience - one in print and one in broadcasting. The commissioners were to be persons of high standing who 'when viewed collectively, represent a broad cross-section of the population of the Republic'. Various categories of people were disqualified from being commissioners, including state employees, office bearers in political parties and those with a financial interest in the media.55 But it was a solution that was only adopted and retained for the one election. In subsequent South African elections responsibility has rested with a combination of the IEC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority.
The Media Experts Commission (MEC) in Bosnia-Herzegovina was also a specialized body for regulating the media in elections. As in South Africa, it was only in existence for a short transitional period. Part of its rationale was that inflammatory material in the media of the former Yugoslavia had played a significant part in inciting violence, resulting in civil war and the break-up of the federal republic. Where the MEC was unique was that it was an international body, operating under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), rather than being answerable to any Bosnian structure. The MEC was in existence for two years, from 1996 until 1998. See Specialist Media and Elections Regulator - Bosnia.
The Russian Federation has a specialized 'information court' - the Judicial Chamber for Information Disputes. This is not strictly speaking a body that is confined to dealing with media and election issues, since it also functions outside election periods. However, it was established in 1993 specifically because of the need for a body to resolve disputes that had arisen during election campaigns. See Complaints Procedure - Russia.
