By: Ilyasa Baa
The two documents launched by the Independent Media Commission (IMC) namely, the IMC Prints and Electronics Media Regulation 2022 and the IMC Elections Coverage Reporting Regulation 2022, have been rated by the Institute of International Democracy and Electoral Assistance as the strongest regulations in the Sib region.
These newly launched documents have replaced the IMC general Code of Conduct which had become absolute and inadequate to stand the test of time. The one on election reporting is divided into five pillars dealing with issues ranging from political advertising, how to handle nominations and press releases from political parties to how the media should conduct itself before and after the conduct of the elections.
According to IMC Spokesman, James TambaLebbie, endorsement of candidates by the media is being frowned upon based on the new regulation. He called on media practitioners to religiously follow the provision of the newly released regulations so that the country will have peaceful multi-tier elections on June 24th. He said the new regulations emanated from the recommendations proffered by observers of the 2018 elections. He noted that much of their recommendations were added to the elections regulations 2022 manual which he said would stand the test of time unlike the general code which was in use before now.
He stressed that press releases must be fact-checked by media institutions to ascertain whether they are done by registered political parties before being put out to members of the public.
However, the two documents were launched by the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed RadoSwarray who referred to the manuals as working documents the media should go by at all times.