5 August 2005
ARTICLE 19 HELPS DRAFT MEDIA CODE FOR SOMALILAND ELECTIONS
Newspaper and broadcasting editors in Somaliland - the breakaway territory bordering Somalia - have developed a code of conduct for media coverage of the upcoming elections, following a workshop held by ARTICLE 19 on 4-7 July 2005.
With the assistance of ARTICLE 19, journalists drafted an 18-point Media Code of Conduct for the 2005 Somaliland Elections, which called for media outlets to cover the electoral campaign in a "fair, balanced and impartial manner" and to "avoid excessive and privileged coverage of incumbent
politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties." The Code also calls for the use of "neutral words for impartial, dispassionate election reporting."
The Code recognises the important role the media plays in monitoring the electoral process. "By covering the election events and the political campaign, the media insures that the public is aware of what is happening. Good media coverage of the electoral process can increase public knowledge and information on the elections, the candidates and the issues," the Code says.
Since seeking independence in 1991, Somaliland has proved to be more stable politically than its neighbour Somalia. Press freedom has improved slightly, with growing public awareness and greater government tolerance for the media, says the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In January
2004, media, human rights and opposition groups successfully lobbied for the removal of several repressive clauses in a new press law.
Visit:
- ARTICLE 19:
http://www.article19.org/pdfs/other/code-conduct-somaliland.pdf
- Media and Elections Reporting Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/8khw5
- Guidelines for Election Broadcasting in Transitional Democracies: http://tinyurl.com/7649o
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/attacks04/africa04/somalia.html
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