These guidelines, developed by the African Centre for Media Excellence, lay out the responsibilities of journalists and other important players such as political parties, candidates, and the Electoral Commission regarding media coverage of national elections in Uganda. Why? Because, to paraphrase Reporters Without Borders, rumours, viral hoaxes, deliberate disinformation and conspiracy theories contribute to the information chaos and therefore we need the news media more to provide the public with the latest reliable information. In this case the most reliable electoral information.
The guidelines focus on the following areas, among others:
- Accuracy
- Distinction between news and opinion
- Sourcing and the use of unnamed sources
- Live interviews
- Corrections and replies
- Opinion polls and election projections
- Full coverage of the electoral process
- Electoral violence
- Discrimination
- Social media
Download the Guidelines for media coverage of elections in Uganda – Revised 2020 or reference them online below.
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
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