News media is no longer the sole source of information for voters. But in a world dominated by mass communications, it is increasingly becoming the case that the media determines the political agenda. A report by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies puts it this way:
“The media plays a major role in keeping the citizenry abreast of current events and raising awareness of various issues in any society. It also has an extremely significant impact on the public’s views and way of thinking. (…) Elections constitute a basic challenge to the media, putting its impartiality and objectivity to the test. Its basic role is to enlighten and educate the public and act as a neutral, objective platform for the free debate of all points of view.”
At Your Voice Ohio, we believe power resides with the people, particularly when they’re informed, which is why we want to strive for the best possible election coverage. A free and fair election is not only about the freedom to vote and the knowledge of how to cast a vote: it’s also about the participatory process where voters engage in public debate and access adequate information about parties, policies, candidates and the election process itself in order to make informed decisions.
Our new coverage guide focuses on the different roles media plays during election time, and provides digital tools and resources to help your newsroom create more informed, engaged, and well-balanced coverage.
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