The Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage : The Sun Editorial

Media stakeholders, in recognition of the need for journalists to have a set of guidelines to regulate their professional conduct during elections, recently launched a code of conduct for election coverage in the country.

Tagged Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage, the 32-page document that    has been adopted by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and six other media associations, was produced with the support of development partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UKaid. It is in recognition of the important role the media play in educating the people on the electoral process to help them make informed choices, and the need to institute guidelines for election coverage that align with international standards to facilitate credible elections in the country.

The code, in its Statement of Broad Principles, outlines the expectations of media professionals from the government, political parties, the electoral management agency, civil society and media support organisations. These largely revolve around the need for these institutions to respect the right of journalists to report the electoral process, to support them in their assignment and refrain from assaulting or intimidating them in any way.

The code, on the other hand, requires journalists to ensure equitable media access and coverage for all parties, candidates and under-represented groups such as women, youths, rural dwellers and those living with disabilities; uphold the right of all parties and candidates to reply to allegations made against them; and ensure the participation of all parties and candidates contesting elections in political debates. They must also ensure fairness, accuracy and balance in their reports, while media organisations are to ensure accurate and impartial voter education on parties, candidates, registration centres, voting centres, voting procedures and complaints procedures as provided by relevant agencies. They are also to uphold the right of the people to free expression by providing opportunity for ordinary citizens to express their views during the electoral process.

The code also outlines responsibilities of journalists on integrity, credibility and opinion polls. They are not to solicit or accept bribes, rely excessively on press releases and media briefings, or distort facts.  Responsibilities of media organisations on endorsements, political advertisements, hateful, abusive or inciting speeches and conflict reporting are also stated.

We commend all the media groups involved in the production and adoption of this code. They are the NGE, NUJ,  the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN); Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON); Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU); Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ); Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC).

We also laud the UNDP, UKaid, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Department of Canada, and Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) 11 Project for the support which brought the document to reality. The Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage is, indeed, a timely and proactive initiative that will place journalists and media organisations in good stead to do more credible and effective reporting of elections and the electoral process in Nigeria.

Hitherto, coverage of elections in Nigeria had been fraught with complaints and allegations of wrongdoing by some journalists and media organisations. Yet, it was quite difficult to bring offending reporters and media organs to book because there was no specific code for election coverage against which their conduct could be measured.

With the release of the comprehensive code on the reporting of elections, journalists and their employers will be guided on best practices in media coverage of elections.  It is, however, imperative that the document is widely distributed to all journalists, media houses and other relevant organisations.

 It should also be widely used in the training of journalists, especially political reporters and heads of political desks in media organisations. This code is a veritable guide to election reporting which should be adopted and strictly implemented in all print and broadcast organisations in the country.