Reporting Elections, Safety and Security of Journalists • • • • • • • candidates, parties and electoral management institutions and officials. Transparent polling procedures, fair, open counting of the votes and timely release of the results are guaranteed. Journalists and media houses can operate in an environment free of violence, harassment and intimidation. Sources and interviewees are not threatened, intimidated or harassed. Perpetrators of attacks against media personnel and property are brought to justice. State and public broadcasters are transformed into truly public service broadcasters as out- lined, among others, in the African Charter on Broadcasting Whistleblowers are protected. Complaints procedures for aggrieved media professionals exist (e.g. complaint mechanisms of Electoral Management Bodies). Public authorities should take appropriate steps for the effective protection of journalists and other media personnel and their premises. At the same time this protection should not obstruct them in carrying out their work. Journalists reporting on the electoral process have a right to be protected from undue pressure and interference from public authorities with a view to influencing the elections and electoral institutions. At a Zimbabwe conference in November 2022 to mark 61