Journalists learn more about involvement of media during elections |25 August 2020

Participants during the session yesterday (Photo: Jude Morel)

A fair and balanced media coverage during elections can foster transparency, provide opportunities for information and knowledge sharing, promote an inclusive electoral process, and serve as an effective forum for public debate, all of which strengthens democratic resilience. 

At the same time biased media coverage can undermine election integrity. 

As Seychelles prepares to hold its next general elections (presidential and legislative), strengthening the accuracy of election reporting and promoting informed electoral analyses is a critical priority. This is why the American embassy in collaboration with the Association of Media Practitioners of Seychelles are organised a two-day training session for journalists from various media houses whichinclude Seychelles NATION, TODAY in Seychelles, Seychelles News Agency, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) and representative from the Electoral Commission of Seychelles and Seychelles Media Commission.

The first session of the training was conducted at the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) headquarters yesterday morning and was facilitated by Elizabeth Bryant, a Paris-based American print/radio journalist and editor with more than 15 years of media experience in the US, Europe, the Middle-East and Africa.

The workshop aims to equip journalists with the skills necessary to inform and educate the public about the upcoming elections.

The training also addresses the issue of how ordinary people across the country can reach politicians and public officials through various platforms such as radio, television, social media and mobile phones in the lead-up to the 2020 elections.

Ms Bryant noted that in order to report elections in a professional manner, journalists benefit from adequate training, support and practice.  

Some additional areas of knowledge that journalists need for elections reporting include coverage options, candidates, rallies, voters, social media use and debates.

During the training the journalist present were also given examples on different reporting styles from various news agencies worldwide that have covered elections.

They were also able to give their opinions on the way Seychelles elections are conducted and how we can improve from past coverage of elections.

Christophe Zialor