Broadcasting election summary guide 2008 – news, comment, current affairs
News, comment, or current affairs programming must meet broadcasters’ responsibilities under the Broadcasting Act 1989, including relevant Broadcasting Standards Authority codes. Such programmes have a primary aim to inform the public, have a range of viewpoints rather than one, and provide objective and impartial reporting. Other important factors are that parties or candidates do not pay for the programming, nor determine its format. Any complaints go directly to the BSA, and do not have to be considered by the broadcaster first. This summary guide is not a substitute for the law or codes. To stay within the law Programme host / maker This is your programme. You have to set the direction, ask hard but fair questions, and ensure all sides of a debate are heard. While cultural practices may be observed, you - as host - are senior to your guest. You must not say who you are voting for, or the types of policies you support, or are against, and so on. You must be unbiased on air, and consider whether off-air involvements threaten perceptions. (Be wary of having candidates or party officials as programme hosts during election year.) You are trying to help voters learn about their election choices, and not to give free advertising. Do not give prominence to party election advertising or slogans in your news, comment or current affairs programming. Anyone wanting to advertise should be referred to advertising sales! If your programme has a language policy, then you do not have to accept the use of other languages. However, you should allow parties or candidates to provide a spokesperson in your language, or a statement in it for you to include. You may, but do not have to, offer translation or interpretation. You should always mention the names of parties or candidates that are unable to participate in a programme for any reason. You should not accept hospitality, fees, favours, or donations of any sort, for any purpose, from your political guests or their parties. Accepting a cuppa is fine. A community access radio programme paid for by a party or electorate candidate is an election advertisement and relevant law applies. Guest You are a guest. Your host sets the rules and controls the programme, regardless of any cultural status. You must be given a fair opportunity to be heard. You must respect the neutrality of your host, and the need for them to challenge you fairly. Avoid language that might make this difficult, such as “surely, as a Māori, you must agree…”, “you cannot question policies which flow from God’s teachings”. You should not try to insert campaign slogans, fundraising messages, membership drives, or promote websites or events, unless responding to a direct question.
If a programme is in a language which you do not have yourself then you can offer a spokesperson, or a statement prepared in the language required. The programme may, but does not have to, offer translation or interpretation.
You should not offer hospitality, fees, favours, or donations of any sort, for any purpose, to your host, their programme or station. Offering a cuppa is fine. It’s a serious criminal offence to knowingly use a false fact in any aspect of your campaigning from the Thursday before election day.
To make it better for your audience Your audience has different levels of knowledge. Make sure your approach helps people new to politics or elections to build knowledge and understand what is being talked about. Many young, Maori and migrant peoples do not vote because they think politics is not for them, or it is too hard to choose. Think about whether your messages or style will help people feel happy to be involved in the election, and able to make a choice. Some people do not vote because they do not understand about enrolling, MMP, or voting. The Elections NZ website (www.elections.org.nz) has information in many languages, which you can use or promote. Remember, it’s the party vote that generally decides how many seats parties crossing the threshold get. Winning an electorate seat is a way that parties with less than 5% of the party vote can cross the threshold.
Provided by the Electoral Commission, phone 04 474 0670, info@elections.govt.nz, www.elections.org.nz, as a service to broadcasters as they develop and implement their own editorial and advertising policies and procedures for the 2008 general election. (Sep ’08.)
Broadcasting election summary guide 2008 – election advertising
Election advertising may only run from Writ Day (which is a few days after the PM announces the date, and will be confirmed on the Elections NZ website) until midnight on election eve. No election advertising may run on election day, other than non-partisan encouragements to vote from the station. All election advertising must include a promoter statement, giving the name and residential address of the financial agent of a party or candidate. Usual broadcasting standards set by the Broadcasting Standards Authority (except for balance) apply to election advertising, including an election code which you should review before accepting advertising. The Broadcasting Standards Authority has jurisdiction for hearing complaints regarding election advertising, and these go directly to the BSA without the broadcaster having to consider them first. Broadcast election advertising is mainly governed by Part 6 of the Broadcasting Act 1989, as well as the Electoral Finance Act 2007 and the Electoral Act 1993. This summary guide is not a substitute for the law or codes. Broadcaster Must offer the same terms and conditions to all parties and to all candidates. These may include volume incentives. Government VID applies to party advertising as it is using public money allocated by the Electoral Commission. Cannot refuse to accept advertising from a party or candidate unless it is in breach of the law or broadcasting codes. In other words, you cannot refuse to accept an advertisement on political grounds. You should check advertising against these guidelines and the BSA codes and consult the Electoral Commission or BSA, as appropriate, if in any doubt, or seek legal advice. Party May only spend money allocated by the Electoral Commission on broadcast election advertising. The may spend allocation or their own funds (within their party election expense limit) on production. May promote a party vote for the party, and mention party leaders or list candidates. May not include or imply a message to vote for the party’s electorate candidates. May run negative advertising towards other parties. Electorate candidate May spend what they like on broadcast election advertising (within their $20,000 expense limit).
May promote their own election to an electorate, and may identify the party they represent and its policies to do this. Must not include or imply a message to vote for the party, nor mention list candidacy. They may not run negative advertising against another candidate or party. May not combine with other electorate candidates in a joint advertisement (unless the advertisement is being funded from party broadcast allocation). Must pay or dispute invoices no later than 40 working days after the final declaration of the electorate winner.
Must make sure invoices are with electorate candidates no later than 20 working days after the final declaration of the electorate winner, and ensure that parties are invoiced promptly also. Should contact the Electoral Commission to discuss any requests from third parties (noncandidates, non-parties) wanting to do election-related advertising, including humorous. Must make a return to the Electoral Commission within 10 working days of the end of the month in which the election is held of all election advertising broadcast.
Must certify and forward invoices to the Electoral Commission within 50 working days after the end of the month in which the election is held in order for the Commission to pay the broadcaster.
Must not run advertising from the Wednesday before election day using a mock ballot paper to show voters how to vote a particular way.
Must not use a false fact in any aspect of campaigning from the Thursday before election day (a serious offence).
Provided by the Electoral Commission, phone 04 474 0670, info@elections.govt.nz, www.elections.org.nz, as a service to broadcasters as they develop and implement their own editorial and advertising policies and procedures for the 2008 general election. (Sep ’08.)