From the Election guidelines by the Govt., a thick book I got from Lammadonna at the last election when she was still talking to me. This website might follow these on-page guidelines in spirit even though almost all the rules seem to apply to print and electronic media only.
Fair and Equal Treatment of Candidates by the Print Media
1. Fairness and equality will in each case be viewed by the Electoral Affairs Commission with reference to the surrounding circumstances.
2. Practical problems that may be experienced by publishers like limitation of column space and staff resources, and situations such as some candidates who have extensive arguments and opinions on issues of public relevance and those who have none, candidates who have made newsworthy statements or speeches as opposed to those who have not uttered a word, and the difference in status and standing of candidates as public figures, etc., are examples of circumstances against which the criteria of fairness and equality are to be judged.
3. What is important is that practical problems, in general terms without specifics, should not be allowed to be used as pretexts for not giving fair and equal treatment and coverage to all candidates competing in the same constituency. Merely saying that practical problems gave rise to the selective reporting will be viewed as a lame excuse, but if the other candidates had been approached and they refused to offer any interview, and this fact is made known in the same article, there can hardly be any suspicion or complaint that the guidelines have been breached.
4. Equal treatment and coverage are not necessarily equal space and equal number of words written on each candidate of the same constituency. It is an idea that has to be examined in all the circumstances of each individual case. Where a candidate says more on a topic and another candidate says less, that can be truthfully and faithfully reported, and no reasonable-minded person will say that that is unequal reporting. Fairness and equality here are in the sense of equal opportunity being given to all candidates competing in the same constituency alike.
5. If there is fair and equal treatment of all candidates competing in the same constituency in a publication, its editorial line or the personal opinions of the writer on each of the candidates can be freely expressed, insofar as they are fair comments and based on true facts. Any newspaper is at full liberty to express its support for or disapproval of a candidate. The guidelines do not seek to impose any shackle on the expression of such ideas.
7.3 A message published through internet platforms (e.g. websites, social media, communication networks, etc.), is also an election advertisement, if such message is published for promoting the election of a candidate or prejudicing the election of other candidates. If web surfers merely share or forward different candidates’ election campaigns through internet platforms for expression of views and do not intend to promote or prejudice the elections of any candidates, such sharing or forwarding does not fulfil the definition of publishing election advertisements. However, if the web surfers are instructed by the candidate or his/her election helpers to share or forward the election campaigns through internet platforms with the intention to promote the candidate’s election or prejudice the election of other candidates, such act will be regarded as publication of the candidate’s election advertisements and any costs incurred will have to be included in the candidate’s election expenses.
The candidate should also observe fully the requirements relating to publication of election advertisements as set out in para. 7.46 below.
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