9,,,3ULQW0HGLD economic nature; the editorial independence of public service broadcasters should be guaranteed; public broadcasters should be adequately funded in a manner that protects them from arbitrary interference with their budgets; public broadcasters should strive to ensure that their transmission system covers the whole territory of the country; and the public service ambit of public broadcasters should be clearly defined and include an obligation to ensure that the public receive adequate, politically balanced information, particularly during election periods. 1. 2. 3. 4. 9,,5HJXODWRU\%RGLHV IRU%URDGFDVWDQG 7HOHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV 1. 2. 3. Any registration system for the print media shall not impose substantive restrictions on the right to freedom of expression. Any print media published by a public authority should be protected adequately against undue political interference. Efforts should be made to increase the scope of circulation of the print media, particularly to rural communities. Media owners and media professionals shall be encouraged to reach agreements to guarantee editorial independence and to prevent commercial considerations from unduly influencing media content. ,;&RPSODLQWV Any public authority that exercises powers in the areas of broadcast or telecommunications regulation should be independent and adequately protected against interference, particularly of a political or economic nature. The appointments process for members of a regulatory body should be open and transparent, involve the participation of civil society, and shall not be controlled by any particular political party. Any public authority that exercises powers in the areas of broadcast or telecommunications should be formally accountable to the public through a multi-party body. 1. 1. A public complaints system for print or broadcasting should be available in accordance with the following principles: complaints shall be determined in accordance with established rules and codes of conduct agreed between all stakeholders; and the complaints system shall be widely accessible. 2. Any regulatory body established to hear complaints about media content, including media councils, shall be protected against political, economic or any other undue interference. Its powers shall be administrative in nature and it shall 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\"