Incumbent candidates for elective office will usually try to use their official position to their own advantage. A president up for re-election will schedule an important international summit to underline his importance as an international statesman. This is an inevitably, if slightly unsavoury, aspect of democratic campaigning.
However, there is a line to be drawn. If a government minister were to use his official telephone or car for campaign activities that would be denounced (and perhaps prosecuted) as an abuse of public funds. Sometimes the media, wittingly or unwittingly, may abet a minister or other official in using official functions as a means of campaigning.
Often the corrective action should be directed against the official rather than the media. Journalists rather need to be educated into making judgements about what is the real news value of Minister X opening a new pig farm - or whatever. In the case of the state media - funded out of public money - a firmer hand may be needed. This is perfectly appropriate. It is not censorship or an interference in editorial freedom, but ensuring the proper use of public funds.
Montenegro, for example, has laid down specific rules for coverage of official functions during an election campaign:
Contact programs or special programs featuring state officials or using their engagements for the purpose of election campaign shall not be produced prior to the termination of the election.
The reporting on the activities of state officials performing their regular official engagements shall not be used for a party's election campaign. (See Media Monitoring - Bosnia.)
In the Malawi elections of 1999, the High Court made an important judgement relating to broadcast coverage of presidential functions. It found that this was a perfectly normal and proper role of the public broadcaster, but that if campaign messages were included in such broadcasts then the broadcaster was duty bound to give equivalent opportunity to the opposition to convey its views on the air. See Government Activities and Campaign Reporting - Malawi.
Such regulations may also apply to direct access material. France, for example usually applies rules that prohibit presidential candidates from showing their 'usual place of work' in their election broadcasts. This is intended to stop the incumbent president from showing himself at the Elysee Palace or meeting visiting dignitaries.101
It might be felt that such prescriptions go a little too far. But few, whether in the media or in election administration, would want to go in the direction of Venezuela. There, there is specific provision for election advertising by the incumbent government. This is not allowed specifically to call for a vote for one party, but in practice these are scheduled alongside the advertising slots for the ruling party.102
