Handbook produced by the Institute for Media Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS) and International Media Support (IMS) offers tips to journalists in countries where democracy is fragile, for producing responsible journalism and useful background information on elections.

For fledging democracies or countries emerging from years of conflict, the role of the media in informing the public about important issues has been widely recognised as a vital one. During elections, that role becomes particularly challenging.
Journalists must know the election rules and report fairly on all candidates, parties and issues. They have to work under tight deadlines and are often under great pressure from powerful interests. Finally, they have to be the eyes and ears of voters, providing them with the information they need to make an informed vote.

Their task should become easier thanks to a new elections reporting handbook produced by the Institute for Media Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS) and International Media Support (IMS). Written for journalists in countries where democracy is fragile, the handbook offers tips for producing responsible journalism and useful background information on elections.

The handbook is available online in PDF format at http://www.impacs.org

Print copies can also be ordered from IMPACS. Contact: media@impacs.org