DISTRICT LEVEL POPULARIZATION WORKSHOPS ON THE IMC (ELECTIONS COVERAGE AND REPORTING/PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA) REGULATIONS 2022

DISTRICT LEVEL POPULARIZATION WORKSHOPS ON THE IMC (ELECTIONS COVERAGE AND REPORTING/PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA) REGULATIONS 2022

 

Introduction:

The Independent Media Commission (IMC) commenced its District Level Popularization of the IMC (Elections Media Coverage and Reporting/Print and Electronic Media) Regulations 2022, in Kono District in the Eastern Region, Koinadugu and Falaba Districts in the Northern Region;  and cascaded in all 13 districts  across the country; with funds from the Irish Aid, through the project: Expanding the Democratic Space in Sierra Leone—Media Capacity Enhancement to Promote Peaceful Elections, Women’s Participation, Public Interest and Conflict Mitigation in Sierra Leone.

During the opening courtesies in the various districts, the IMC Chairman or a Commissioner welcomed participants and admonished them to listen to the messages the facilitators have for them as it was very good for the enhancement of the media capacity, promotion of democracy and peaceful elections. They advised journalists against fake news, disinformation, misinformation and hate speeches. Similar statements were made by the SLAJ representatives at districts level, women in the Media representative and representatives from the Sierra Leone Reporters Union in the respective Districts.

Participants were drawn from among the media, elections management bodies, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, civil society, the security sector, traditional authorities, Inter-Religious Council, political parties, Women in the Media and Women’s Forum Network, Market Women and the Sierra Leone Reporters Union.

The popularization took the format of a workshop in which presentations were made on the two IMC Regulations 2022:

1. Fact sheet on the IMC Elections (Coverage and Reporting) Regulations 2022;
2. Overview of the IMC (Print and Electronic Media) Regulation 2022;
3. General Elections Media Coverage and Reporting Guidelines;
4. Complaints Policy and Procedures; and
5. Plenary Discussions

 

Facilitation:

The first presentation introduces IMC Elections (Coverage and Reporting) Regulations, 2022 to participants at district level. The facilitators presented a background of the IMC Act of 2000 as amended in 2006 and 2007, which was finally repealed and replaced by the IMC Act 2020; to provide for the registration and regulation of mass media institutions in Sierra Leone, licensing institutions engaged in radio, television or direct to home” digital satellite service broadcasting and registration of persons and institutions engaged in the publication of newspapers, magazines in Sierra Leone and to provide for other related matters. Facilitators noted that the IMC 2020 Act, made provision for the Commission to establish, monitor and enforce a media code of practice throughout Sierra Leone in consultation with the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists and other media practitioners and associations; hence the need for the unbundling of the IMC Media Code of Practice 2007 to stand alone regulations— Elections Coverage and Reporting and the Print and Electronic Media Regulations 2022. The Elections (Coverage and Reporting) Regulations 2022, contains guidelines for media practitioners and institutions regarding their work during elections.

The rationale for media coverage and reporting on elections the facilitators explained should: promote democracy, peace and good governance; provide fair, adequate and equitable media coverage and reporting of the activities of political parties in Sierra Leone; and offer equal opportunity and access to all political parties and candidates in presenting their manifestoes to the public; and ensure accurate balanced and credible reporting. The regulation emphasized to media practitioners/institutions to desist from the publication or broadcast of inaccurate, misleading or distorted information and materials including pictures; and for them to make all reasonable efforts to check and cross- check the accuracy of stories prior to publication or broadcast; and to further exercise proper editorial judgement in favour of good taste and respect for public safety, security and morality.

The second session provides and overview of the IMC Print and Electronic Media Regulation 2022, which suggests that the activities of a media practitioner or institution in Sierra Leone shall be guided by principles of democratization, freedom of expression, equality in access to information and communication, professionalism and responsibility, pluralism and diversity, and cultural preservation and promotion. The object of media practitioners and institutions in Sierra Leone as stated by facilitators is to support national development initiatives and programmes to improve the quality of life of Sierra Leoneans through systemic and effective use and coordination of mass communication strategies and activities; promote national dialogue by the citizenry that is consistent with democratic culture and constitutionalism; facilitate access to information and communication infrastructure and technology in rural areas; promote national cultural heritage and identity; support timely, orderly and effective growth of information and communication institutions and professions; promote regional and national cohesion and international cooperation.

The key themes of the regulation as noted by the facilitators include:

1. responsibility to provide accurate, balanced and credible information;
2. registration of print media; responsibilities of Commission to print media institutions;
3. registration of electronic media institutions;
4. responsibilities of Commission to electronic media institutions;
5. specific responsibilities for radio, television and direct to home services;
6. categories of television programmes;
7. live and phone-in programmes;
8. obligation to record programmes; and
9. complaints procedure.

The third presentation focused on key provisions of the Election Coverage and Reporting Regulation 2022. The presentation taught participants on general guidelines for elections media coverage and reporting of political activities, including: political manifestos, political advertising, elections campaigns, political opinion polls, incumbent, reporting on nomination day, elections day and post-elections period.

The session also highlighted key areas of the regulation dealing with prohibition of endorsement of political candidates; prohibition of publication of incredible party releases and conflict of interest. The facilitation also emphasized identification requirement for journalists and media covering elections and duty to obey lawful security order.

The forth session presented the Offences outline in the election regulations. The facilitators emphasized that a media practitioner or media institution that contravenes the guidelines for coverage and reporting of elections in Part II shall be liable to a fine not below 5,000 Leones and not above 20,000 Leones. Therefore, an opportunity should be accorded to offended parties of media contents to reply immediately or in the next publication or broadcast; or make a retraction in equal measures.

Lastly, the complaints and enforcement procedures informed participants about the IMC Complaints Committee appointed under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of Section 19 of the IMC Act 2020. Facilitators noted that the Committee shall determine complaints referred to it by the Commission within one month unless it requires further investigation. The Committee shall inquire into complaints forwarded to it and make recommendations to the Commission. Hearings of the Complaint Committee shall be conducted in public.

 

Challenges:

The Commission did not encounter any major challenge in the implementation of its activity, the only major obstacle was the inability to hold popularization sessions in two Districts Falaba and Karene in the North and North-West Regions. However, participants were drawn from the two Districts to the nearby districts of Koinadugu and Kambia to participate in the sessions.

Risks:

1. Community media institutions stand the risk of political candidates not going to use the media to sell their political manifestoes;
2. Regional Political sensitivity characterized by high tension around the electioneering process;
3. Assault/ attack on journalists;
4. Threat of spread of hate speeches through social media;
5. Threat of public demonstration;
6. Communal militia—use of local people to do road blocks to prevent political opponent from plying certain routes with their campaign messages; and
7. Threat of social media attacks on journalists.

Opportunities:

1. Public understanding of the IMC Election Coverage and Reporting/ Print and Electronic Media Regulations 2022;
2. Enhanced media/practitioners’ capacity to report on the electioneering process in a fair and balance manners;
3. Create an opportunity for public understanding of political manifestoes of political candidates;
4. Creates an opportunity for the commission to implement its elections activities across the country.