Reporting Elections, Safety and Security of Journalists • • • • • • • • • • • • The inability to manage hate language The fear of physical attacks The exposure to bribes and begging The framing of partisan views The danger of ignorance The fatality of lack of creativity Lack training on issues of safety Lack of guarantee of media freedom Responsibility in reporting inflammatory speeches Poor crowd estimation skills Shrill propaganda The journalist’s tool box In Reporting Elections in Southern Africa, a media handbook published in 2000, pages 46-50. • • • • News reporting and current affairs programming should be primarily to inform the public of issues. Coverage of the party leaders and personalities should not be done at the expense of the main issues. Coverage of minor parties should not be disproportionate to their role in the election. Comment and editorial support should be clearly defined and not disguised as news. A summary of the recommended election coverage model would include: • Constitution • Economic indicators • Demographic profiles • Cultural and traditional practices • The parties and the issues 11