EU EOM Media Monitoring Shows GRTS Professionalism on the December Presidential Election Coverage

 EU EOM media monitoring has stated that the State Broadcast (GRTS) for their professionalism on the last year’s presidential election coverage, the results show that GRTS provided rather balanced news coverage by devoting 21 percent to Adama Barrow (NPP), 31 percent to Ousainou Darboe (UDP), 8 percent to Essa Faal (independent candidate), 12 percent to Abdoulie Jammeh (NUP), 12 percent to the Mamma Kandeh (GDC), and 16 percent to Halifa Sallah (PDOIS). All news coverage by GRTS was positive or neutral in tone.

Whiles, In contrast, monitored commercial TV stations displayed significant bias towards the incumbent. Eye Africa TV covered the GDC, the independent candidate, NPP, NUP, PDOIS, and the UDP by devoting 9, 8, 40, 6, 24, and 13 percent of news coverage. Paradise TV devoted 11, 16, 37, 7, 15, and 15 percent of news coverage to the listed candidates. QTV virtually covered only the NPP by devoting 92 percent of its news coverage to Adama Barrow.

The tone of the coverage was predominantly (89 percent) neutral or positive.

 The editorial coverage on monitored state and commercial radio, still considered the main source of information, was generally more balanced, with some radio stations airing criticism of the incumbent.48 generally; the amount of editorial coverage in broadcasting was comparatively low. Commercial broadcasters reported dependence on paid content due to a lack of resources to cover all campaign events equally. None of the monitored TV stations distinguished paid advertising clearly from editorial content. Two of the monitored newspapers displayed some balance in their reporting, while another displayed bias.

A debate, organised by a national CSO and supported by international donors, was broadcasted live on 20 November on commercial Paradise TV, several commercial radio stations and online. However, Only Essa Faal and Halifa Sallah, participated in the presidential debate.

Coverage of the Election Campaign and EU EOM Media Monitoring Findings the Election Act and supplementing IEC 2016 Elections Media Rules provide contestants with an equal amount of free airtime on state-owned broadcasters and the right to purchase advertising

According to  the 2011 UNHRC General Comment No. 34 to the ICCPR and Principle 17 of the 2019 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa Principle 13 of the 2019 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa stipulate that “States shall establish public service media governed by a transparently constituted and diverse board adequately protected against undue interference of a political, commercial or other nature.” Currently, senior management of GRTS is appointed by the President.

 According to the 2011 UNHRC General Comment No. 34 to the ICCPR and nd Paragraph 40 of the 2011 UNHRC General Commented on the ICCPR and Principles 11 and 12 of the 2019 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa 45 Section 227 of the 2009 Information and Communications Act obliges PURA to provide for diversity and fair competition in the broadcasting sector. The Guidelines were adopted in reference to Section 227 (e), requiring PURA to “ensure a limitation in cross ownership between broadcasters, signal distribution licensees, newspapers, electronic communication licensees and advertising agents”. 46 ARTICLE 19 provided a legal analysis of draft regulatory guidelines on media ownership in July 2017. 47 QTV, a commercial TV station with nation-wide coverage, belongs to QGroup, incorporating several business interests. Another license was allocated to the Africell telecom provider, already operating a radio station.

EU Election Observation Mission Final Report Presidential Election, 4 December 2021 shows times in commercial broadcasting. Without explicit reference to news, the government should give no advantage by undue coverage of institutional events on state broadcasters.

Candidates, in advertising, are prohibited from criticizing competitors and using “inflammatory, defamatory or insulting” language, among other things. These restrictions are insufficiently defined to constitute a legitimate restriction on freedom of speech. As such, they risk undermining genuine and robust debate. The IEC did not conduct monitoring to implement the Media Rules and no media-related complaints were filed. However, on 12 November, a UDP press release accused the IEC of stifling UDP’s right to criticize the incumbent after a UDP Party Political Broadcast had been rejected by GRTS. According to the IEC, GRTS, and the UDP, the case was solved informally and UDP’s advertising was broadcast on GRTS.