Media, elections and good governance
MISA Zimbabwe subscribes to the notion that ‘elections define democracy while the media enlightens and sustains it.
The media’s traditional role is to inform the public on issues of the day accurately and fairly and need to do so while respecting a professional code of ethics.
This obligation is more critical during elections where citizens vote in leaders for central or local government authorities. Voters look up to the media to inform them factually and fairly on the various parties, policies, personalities and programmes at play.
This places a big responsibility on the media and on the journalists, underlying the fact that the election story “begins yesterday and not today” – It begins months before polling and can continue way after the votes have been tallied.
Although the election story could be regarded as a “set piece” easier to report, in practice covering elections requires more professional skills than the usual run-of-the- mill story.
Through its Media Support and Media Defence Fund, MISA-Zimbabwe conducts election reporting and journalism safety and security workshops as part of efforts to capacitate the media to fulfil its role of reporting accurately, truthfully and fairly in the pre-election and post-election periods.
This also involves the production and updating of its election reporting and journalism safety and security handbooks.
Through its Media Freedom Monitoring, MISA Zimbabwe strives to ensure the emergency of a conducive environment that ensures the safety and security of journalists which is of critical importance during elections.
Another major primary concern during elections is that journalists covering elections must be able to work as safely as is possible if they are to get their stories out. This is done through the issuance of alerts on cases involving media freedom violations.
Media, elections and governance news from our chapters
The 2021 MISA Zimbabwe Annual report is now available!
Below is an extract from the Chairperson`s report Our 2021 Annual Report comes on the backdrop of significant historical events in the life and existence of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) as a regional outfit, and by extension, MISA Zimbabwe as a member...
State of the Media 2021 report now available!
MISA Zimbabwe would like to announce the publication of the 2021 state of the media report which takes a look at the media landscape and operating environment with regards to freedom of expression, access to information, digital rights, media sustainability and media...
Media professionalism, accountability and safety critical during elections
As Zimbabwe’s by-elections slated for 26 March 2022 draw close, media professionalism and journalists’ safety are of vital importance to ensure citizens’ access to accurate and verifiable information for informed choices and decisions. Political parties, the police...
Safety of journalists and access to information critical to credible SADC elections
Five Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are scheduled to go for elections in 2019. The five are Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. The countries will be holding their elections in May and October respectively. Of the five...
Thinking Beyond: December 2018 Edition now available
We are pleased to announce that the Thinking Beyond December 2018 edition is now out under the theme: Leadership: Key to unlocking Zimbabwe's potential beyond 2018 elections Thinking Beyond: December 2018 edition is available for download in the MISA Zimbabwe Resource...