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IBA Imposes Strict Guidelines for Private Radio Stations Ahead By-Election
The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has issued strict guidelines for private radio stations ahead of the October 9th bye-election in the Montagne-Blanche/Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est (No. 10) constituency. The guidelines aim to ensure fair and impartial coverage of the election, with penalties for non-compliance significantly increased.
The IBA’s directives, which draw inspiration from those used in the 2019 general elections, introduce notable changes.
Non-compliance with these guidelines will result in a fine of Rs 500,000, up from Rs 100,000 previously, and a maximum prison sentence of five years, up from two years.
Fair and Balanced Coverage
Private radio stations are required to provide “fair, balanced, precise, and impartial” coverage of political events and to give equal coverage to all parties, alliances, and independent candidates.
The IBA emphasized that license holders must be guided by what the public has a right to know and not act as an authority imposing their views on what the public should know.
Radio stations must actively seek information to avoid giving unfair coverage to parties with more resources.
Additionally, they must comply with all Mauritian laws, including those related to defamation, injury, and calumny.
Political Broadcasts
Programmes and paid political broadcasts are subject to regulation during the election campaign. These regulations are largely similar to those applied in the past.
Paid political broadcasts cannot contain personal attacks or defamation against any candidate or person, nor can they include comments that undermine the integrity of the president, vice-president, and members of the judiciary.
They cannot promote political appeals based on race, color, caste, creed, sex, or place of origin, nor can they contain language that is offensive, blasphemous, or likely to provoke violence or sedition.
Programmes and paid political broadcasts must not exceed 15 seconds and can only include the name of the party, location, time of event, and names of speakers.
Phone-in Programs
Phone-in programs during the election campaign must ensure that different individuals or groups are given opportunities to express themselves, promoting diversity of views.
Radio stations must establish mechanisms to ensure equity on airwaves and prevent any drift into illegality or mockery of the electoral system.
Reunions and Political Meetings
Radio stations must provide “fair, balanced, precise, and impartial” coverage of political events.
A broadcast delay of at least 30 seconds is now mandatory to allow for censored or pixelated content to be removed before transmission.
Election Day
On election day, no person participating in a broadcast program can directly or indirectly invite or persuade an elector to vote for a particular party or candidate.
IBA Demands
The IBA is requiring private radio stations to provide full recordings of programs within 24 hours.
Before airing a political program, a detailed program schedule must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance, including the time, title, theme, duration, and participants.
A full recording of each program must be sent at least four hours before transmission.
Preventing Overexposure
Radio stations must ensure that excessive coverage is not given to a particular party during the electoral period, giving it an unfair advantage over other parties.
They must continue to inform their audience about news and events with real value during this period.
In addition, radio stations may be required to provide recordings of the number and duration of broadcasts about political parties and important electoral issues to identify any unjustified overexposure or undercoverage of a party.
If a party chooses not to avail itself of offered coverage, undercoverage is not an issue.
Behavior
Presenters and journalists are subject to a strict code. Radio stations must ensure that no presenter or journalist uses their position at the station to promote their personal political objectives or those of a political party.
Overall, these guidelines aim to promote fair and balanced coverage of the upcoming by-election and ensure that private radio stations adhere to their obligations as license holders.
Source: Defi Media