2308 Results
Quotes
Quotes based on international documents, law, and treaties- "The public service ambit of public broadcasters should be clearly defined and include an obligation to ensure that the public receive adequate, politically balanced information, particularly during election periods."
- "It is generally accepted that [the public media] should not be political partisan in their editorial coverage. This was the view set out by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, in his 1999 report, when he spoke of the obligation of the state-owned media to give voice to a variety of opinions and not to be a propaganda organ for one particular political party. Also, they have particular obligations to provide civic education, as well as to provide a platform for the different political parties."
- "State-owned/public media usually have a special responsibility for ensuring impartiality."
- "The state-owned and publicly funded media have a special responsibility to be balanced and impartial during an election campaign period. Because of their unique role in society, state-owned media should provide equitable access to candidates and parties as part of their responsibilities to the public."
- "...the State and its organs should therefore ensure: That the necessary steps are taken to guarantee non-partisan coverage in State and public-service media."
- "The very basis of democratic governance require that the electorate be able to make informed choices. This demands that all contesting points of view be fairly and equitably communicated on a non-discriminatory basis, particularly in the media financed from public funds. State sponsored broadcasters carry a special responsibility for providing balanced coverage of the election campaign."
- "In some countries, election legislation provides for the use of state resources by political contestants. This can include…access to government-owned media outlets. … Observers should assess: whether the criteria are objective and clearly defined; whether the criteria are reasonable and fair; whether the criteria are administered similarly for all contestants; and whether the resources are distributed in amounts and at times that do not unfairly disadvantage any contestants. It is the responsibility of governing parties not to abuse state resources… In a democracy, it is a generally accepted rules that government property belongs to all inhabitants of the country on an equal basis."
- "The public media, whether print or electronic, always have a responsibility to provide balanced and impartial information to the electorate. This is usually enshrined in law and/or in the charters of public broadcasters or print media. Even if this is not the case, balanced treatment by public media would be required by OSCE commitments (Copenhagen Document, Paragraph 7) stating that candidates should compete on the basis of equal treatment by the authorities and that public policy should work to ensure campaigning is conducted in a fair atmosphere."
- "The state media should meet its special responsibility for providing sufficient, balanced information to enable the electorate to make a well-informed choice."
- "State-owned media, or public media, have a special responsibility to provide balanced and neutral information on the election and the contestants. All contest points of view should be fairly and equitably communicated."
- "State-owned media must not be used as a communication or propaganda organ of one political party or as an advocate for the Government to the exclusion of all other parties and groups."
- "Equality of opportunity must be guaranteed for parties and candidates alike. This entails a neutral attitude by state authorities, in particular with regard to: ii. coverage by the media, in particular by the publicly owned media."
- "Beyond the question of equal access, the actual quantity and quality of media coverage of women candidates have a critical influence on their public image and their electoral prospects. A key role of the media in any election is to ensure that the public has sufficient information on candidates and parties to be able to make informed choices. These factors underlie the need to assess whether women candidates are receiving a fair and unbiased share of media campaign coverage. The EOM should therefore examine such questions as whether the media promote the visibility of women candidates, whether they cultivate public acceptance of women as a normal feature of political life, and whether they present women in a manner that promotes public confidence."
- "Member States should adopt measure whereby print media outlets which are owned by public authorities, when covering electoral campaigns, should do so in a fair, balanced and impartial manner, without discriminating against or supporting a specific political party or candidate."
- "Even though the human rights treaties do not expressly include the right of political candidates to disseminate their opinions through the media or the right of the public to have access to the opinions of political candidates, these rights are firmly anchored in the treaty-based rights to freedom of expression and non-discrimination. Whether the source of these rights-indisputably crucial to any genuine election-is the right to political participation per se or the rights to freedom of expression and non-discrimination is of no practical consequence. Since the right to political participation has for decades been considered controversial, most law on the matter has evolved under the rubric of freedom of expression."
- "The right of political parties and candidates to have access to government media receives powerful support form the strong prohibition of discrimination, including on grounds of political opinion, under international law. Paragraph 1 of Article 2 of the [ICCPR] declares that governments are obliged both to refrain from discrimination concerning matters that would affect the enjoyment of fundamental rights: 'Each state party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within this territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.' Other human rights treaties impose similar obligations. Thus, if a government-controlled media outlet provides air time to the ruling party, either by way of time for direct statements or by way of news coverage, then it is obliged to devote equitable amounts of time to competing political parties on a non-discriminatory basis (emphasis added)."
- "That no political parties or other groups taking part in the election have been subjected to unnecessary restriction in enjoying free and unbiased access to the press, radio and television to express their views to the public and that they have all enjoyed freedom to advertise and publish their views."
- "Ensure that [political parties] have fair and equal access to the media in practice as well as in theory and are able to make their candidates known."
- "All contesting parties and candidates should have equal access to the public media."
- "Campaign-related access to the media is usually determined in either the Election Law, media law or associated instructions issued by either an election commission or media institution's). Such access is usually predicated upon one or two criteria: equal access for all election contestants, or equitable access for all contestants, dependent upon the number of candidates competing or the size of a party's representation in the out-going Parliament."
- "Any legislation or regulation of the media should reinforce the principle of equal or equitable access for candidates and political parties. For example, when there is a system of paid for political advertising, all candidates should receive the same treatment and have access to advertising space under the same conditions as every other candidate. The concept of due impartiality does not mean that broadcasters cannot provide critical coverage of the candidates and parties, but they should seek to provide different views, present facts and clearly distinguish between news and editorial positions."
- "...[A]ccess to the media in modern society is self-evidently crucial to the dissemination of party platforms and programmes."
- "The principle of equal access to the media is widely accepted in established democracies. The formulae may vary, but the underlying premise is the same: those competing in an election should have a reasonable opportunity to get their message across."
- "A country's legal framework should contain the following guarantees: That the political parties and candidates are given the necessary legal guarantees to enable them to compete with each other on a basis of equitable treatment before the law and by the state authorities. That no legal or administrative obstacle stands in the way of access to the media on a non-discriminatory basis for all political groupings and individuals wishing to participate in the electoral process."
- "The legislative framework for elections should ensure that all political parties and candidates have access to the media and equitable treatment in media owned or controlled by the state, so that the general public can be informed of the political platforms, views and goals of all parties and candidates in a fair and unbiased manner."
- "Access to the media by parties and candidates may be regulated in a country's law covering the media or public information rather than in the election law. Media law may only provide general statements on access and delegate authority for promulgating the specifics of implementation to an administrative body such as a specialized media commission."
- "In addition, Paragraph 7 requires that political parties and candidates have unimpeded access to the media on a non-discriminatory basis."
- "OSCE commitments on democratic elections require that no legal or administrative obstacles stand in the way of unimpeded access to the media on a non-discriminatory basis for all political groups and individuals wishing to participate in the electoral process."
- "Political parties and candidates should be provided access to media and equal treatment in media owned or controlled by the state so that voters can be informed of political platforms, views, and goals in a fair and unbiased manner. This covers all forms of the media, including radio, television, newspapers, and evolving forms of media such as the Internet."
- "Regulation of equal treatment and access to media may be regulated in a country's law on media or public information. Additionally, the law may only provide general statements on equal treatment and access and may delegate authority for promulgating the specifics of implementation to an administrative body such a specialized media commission. … The law and its implementation should not give an undue advantage to any particular political party or candidate."
- "In summary, the commitments require states to: ensure unimpeded access to the media on a non-discriminatory basis."
- "Opposition parties should…be given equal opportunity and agreed upon time and space on the state-owned media to put their announcements and broadcasts and advertisements."
- "SADC Member States shall adhere to the following principles in the conduct of democratic elections: Equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media"
- "Fair media access implies not only equality of time and space allotted, but also attention to the hour of broadcasting (i.e. prime-time versus late broadcasting) and the placement of printed advertisements (i.e. front page versus back page). Fair media use implies responsibility on the part of all persons or parties delivering messages or imparting information via the mass media (i.e. truthfulness, professionalism and abstaining from false promises or building of false expectations)."
- "Political parties and candidates have the right of access to the state/publicly owned media, particularly the broadcast media, during the election campaign."
- "Depending on the subject matter, equality may be strict or proportional. If it is strict, political parties are treated on an equal footing irrespective of their current parliamentary strength or support among the electorate. If it is proportional, political parties must be treated according to the results achieved in the elections. Equality of opportunity applies in particular to radio and television air-time, public funds, and other forms of backing."
- "Fair media access implies not only equality of time and space allotted, but also attention to the hour of broadcasting (i.e. prime-time versus late broadcasting) and the placement of printed advertisements (i.e. front page versus back page)."
- "Print media outlets owned by public authorities...If such media outlets accept paid advertising in their publications, the should ensure that all political contenders and parties that request the purchase of advertising space are treated in an equal and non-discriminatory manner."
- "In the area of paid political advertising there should also be a guarantee of access and equal treatment. An inequality is created in the area of paid political advertising if the legal framework fails to ensure that the same commercial rate for such ads be offered to all political parties and candidates, and that the times and location of the advertising be on similar terms. Alternatively, and where not contradicting other laws, the legal framework could prohibit all paid political advertising. If paid political advertising is permitted, then it should be offered at the same commercial rate for such advertising and under similar conditions to all political parties and candidates in order to ensure access and equal treatment. Moreover, paid political advertising should be identified as such and should not be disguised as news or editorial coverage."
- "In member States where political parties and candidates are permitted to buy advertising space for electoral purposes, regulatory frameworks should ensure that: the possibility of buying advertising space should be available to all contending parties, and on equal conditions and rates of payment; the public is aware that the message is paid political advertisement."
- "If media accept paid political advertising, regulatory or self-regulatory frameworks should ensure that such advertising is readily recognizable as such."
- "If political advertising is allowed, private media should charge the same rates to all parties and candidates without any discrimination. Some jurisdictions ban political advertising altogether; in other jurisdictions such a ban has been interpreted as an unjustified breach of the right of free speech and expression. Nevertheless, paid political advertising should always be identified as such and should not be disguised as news or editorial coverage."
- "If paid political advertising is permitted in the public or private media, then the costs and conditions should be reasonable and should be equally applied to all candidates."
- "With these broad principles in mind, the Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize that in pre-election periods…(d)There is a clear distinction between news and press conferences related to functions of office and activities by members of the governments, particularly if the member concerned is seeking election."
- "Where self-regulation does not provide for this, member States should adopt measures whereby public and private broadcasters, during the election period, should in particular be fair balanced and impartial in their news and current affairs programmers, including discussion programmes such as interviews or debates. No privileged treatment should be given by broadcasters to public authorities during such programmes."
- "[W]hile the incumbent will get media coverage concerning state affairs, campaign events should not be confused with issues of state."
- "The standard of equitable treatment and access to the media are undermined if state-owned or controlled media are able to favour a political party or candidate in supposed news coverage, political coverage, forums or editorials. Biased coverage or preferential treatment in State media should be prohibited by law, with penalties or corrective mechanisms defined."
- "As the purpose of talk shows and current-affairs programmes is to provide viewers and listeners with insight and knowledge of current issues, they will not necessarily provide a balanced view within a single programme, but they should do so over a series."
- "While the incumbents may get media coverage concerning their official duties, this should not be misused as a means to give them an unfair advantage, and campaign events should not be confused with the issues of State."
- "The standard of equal treatment and access to media is undermined if state owned or controlled media is able to favor a political party or candidate in news coverage, political coverage, forums, or editorials. Biased coverage or treatment in state media should be prohibited and authorities should be required to immediately act upon any violation."