Malawi Electoral Commission

Media Training in Preparation for the 2014 Tripartite Elections

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Role of Media in Elections

LZ Manda,PhD

lmanda@poly.ac.mw

Mzuzu Hotel, 2-4 October, 2013

By media performance our elections are judged

Since3 1999 our elections have been declared unfair but substantially free and peaceful.

In 2009, the commonwealth observer mission said:

• We are extremely concerned at the conduct of state-owned media in its coverage of these elections. The Election Law provides that every political party shall have the right to have its “campaign propaganda” broadcast on radio by the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation. In addition, major media had all signed a Code of Conduct highlighting the need for balanced and fair reporting. However, reporting and coverage of the President and DPP’s campaign by state radio and TV was unashamedly partisan”.

• (http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/190591/163072/201032/210509malawicogi ntertim.htm).

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Exercise

• What have Malawian journalists agreed pertaining to covering elections?

• What have SADC journalists agreed pertaining to covering elections?

• What is common between them?

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Instruction: Distribute SADC and MEC guidelines on Election Reporting

Available from : http://www.mec.org.mw/Elections/CodesOfConduct/MalawiMedia/tabid/88/Defau

lt.aspx and http://misaswaziland.com/sadc-guidelines-on-media-coverage-of-

elections/)

Media Role in Elections

• Media Role recognised in Malawi’s constitution, and specific laws governing elections in Malawi such as:

– Electoral Commission Act

– Communications Act

– Local Government Elections Act

– Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act

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Media Role in Elections

• Media role also acknowledged in journalism standards and ethics guidelines

– 1993 agreement between PCD/PAC

– MEC guidelines

– MARCA Broadcasting License Conditions

– Media Council of Malawi Code of Ethics

– SADC Guidelines on Election Reporting

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Why journalists need caution during elections

Elections naturally entail conflict (hence: newsworthy)

Elections= competition= winners and losers

Elections are about power, influence and money

Elections are emotion boiler- losers always want to blame loss on someone = journalists usually blamed.

Winners tend to praise media= worsening relationship between losers & media

Note: ALL ELECTIONS MATTER

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What is expected of journalists during elections

• Neutrality

• Objectivity

• Thoroughness/Comprehensiveness

• Fairness

• Equity (not equality) in contestant treatment

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What is expected of journalists

• Round profiles of participating parties & candidates

• Analysis, annotation, simplification of party & candidate manifestos/ideas

• Equitable coverage of all sides (note: once parliament is dissolved there is no ruling party of party in power, although presidency carries on running the country).

• Information distribution and correction of misinformation and disinformation

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Suggestions on operationalising effective election coverage

• Create dedicated page/s in online media, newspapers/magazines

• Train/empower dedicated team to cover elections in full (and how to avoid danger, injury and death)

• Embed if you can a reporter to each campaign trail

• Set aside a budget for – a) transportation of reporters – b) equipment – c) special insurance

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• Yewu

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