BCC warns broadcasters to observe electoral law

The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) warns the broadcasters to observe the Regulation on covering the early parliamentary elections on July 29. In a press-release, quoted by Info-Prim Neo, the BCC says the media are obliged to observe all the provisions of the Broadcasting Code, in order to inform the voters fairly and objectively about the political platforms of the electoral competitors, in such a way that the voters can express freely and correctly their constitutional right. “The BCC recommends the broadcasters to insure, in newscasts, the impartiality, balance and free conveyance of opinions by presenting the key views of the opponents. And, in case of reports on conflict-related situations, they shall observe the principles of information from several sources, as provided by art.7 of the Broadcasting Code,” reads the communique. “It's crucially important that the broadcasters should not allow interference into the contents and form of the program services on behalf of the public authorities, electoral competitors or other outsiders, to insure, as provided under the law, equal airtime for all the electoral competitors,” the BCC underlines. The BCC will consider the observance of opinion pluralism in newscasts of broadcasters in its public sittings.