Reporting Elections, Safety and Security of Journalists 3. 4. 5. When: check the dates. What is the context – is it new? Check your own biases. We believe what we already believe. Ask experts. For images/videos Check the photograph or video to verify if the visual data matches with the supplied details, for things like: Signage; Language (on billboards, T-shirts, food packaging); flags or emblems); license plates on cars; where is the driver’s seat placed; geographical features; architectural features and visible weather conditions. Many false images are circulated during elections for propaganda and campaign purposes, and journalists should acquire skills to detect them, including through reverse image searches for images. Propaganda and Electioneering Rival Zimbabwean political parties and allied supportive structures are heavily invested in election propaganda involving massive disinformation, mal-information and misinformation. Journalists and media houses stand a huge risk of getting sucked and sullied by the propaganda and electioneering campaigns if they disseminate information from the competing parties and their supporters without verifying it. Essential guidelines Respect for truth and for the right of the public to truth is the first duty of the journalist. 66 https://zimbabwe.misa.org