Critical analysis of the Democratic Republic of Congo national tv coverage of the 2011 elections. Case study of Kinshasa city

2.2. THE MEDIA BROADCAST

The monolithic approach of broadcasting is perhaps a bit obsolete. Laitela, T (1995), and Juusela, P (1991) in Journalistic codes of ethics in the CSCE countries, University note that electronic media are increasingly diversi?ed and competitive, the public can become fragmented. Public television in Europe has over the dominant (or monopoly) position that it once held, and it is often exceeded by commercial broadcasters. In addition, generalist terrestrial broadcasters face competition from more specialized presenters: strings (encrypted and pay) to public targeted and limited, distributed via satellite or cable.

The parties and candidates running a mandate consider television as their preferred campaign media. They organize events specially designed to get airtime: opportunities for photographs, walks, press conferences, tours election (Mr Blair in a factory, Mr Blair in the crowd, Mr Blair talking to people on the street, Mr Blair giving a speech setting the agenda).

Policies also use more of soundbites that pass to the evening newscast and they devote more time and resources looking for the hearing, the marketing techniques and their presentation and television training.

These two developments proliferation of channels and increasing professionalism with which parties and candidates lead and manage their campaign change the face of the coverage of the elections by television in Western Europe today.^9(*)

In articles published in the journal of electoral knowledge (ACE) some authors we demonstrate the media, especially television, are considered more and more important for the electoral campaign and parties and candidates try to appear on television as much as possible. Television is widely regarded as the most important means for the campaign and reaches voters in countries where there is a wide coverage and a large audience.

Any regulation of media activity during elections normally applies to a specified campaign period. There would be an official campaign period during which these regulations apply, otherwise the activity of media will be governed by the usual practice.

The campaign period is the period prior to the election. Nevertheless, pre-election activities generally occur for a longer period than that of the official campaign in the electoral calendar.

In some countries, there are also regulations specifying a period of silence. It's a period or a number of days following before the elections, during which no campaign activity is permitted and there are strict restrictions on what the media can write or broadcast.

During the pre-election period of recent electoral cycles, technology has become more and more dominant. This includes text/SMS by the widespread use of mobile phones, even in rural areas, the use of Smartphones, mainly in urban areas and access to online (such as Facebook or Twitter) platforms via private computers or in Internet cafes.

The media are essential to democracy, ("world day of freedom of the press 2005; Dakar Declaration»,UNESCO,accessedJuly8,2015,http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/world-press-freedom-day/previous-celebrations/worldpressfreedomday200900000/dakar-declaration/') and it is impossible to hold democratic elections without the media.

Elections are free and fair, require not only that the vote can be held in good conditions, but also that voters have access to adequate information on political parties and the electoral process itself in order to make an informed choice.

An election cannot be democratic without the media, which play a role of monitoring and guarantee the transparency of the process. Indeed, a democratic election without freedom of the press, or with a restricted freedom, would be inherently contradictory. ("Media Play a Key Role in Senegal's Election", International Center for Journalists, may 7, 2012, http://www.icfj.org/news/media-play-key-role-senegals-election)

The declaration issued at the end of the annual international conference of the world day of freedom of the press 2005 notes that "independent and pluralistic media are essential to ensure transparency, accountability and participation, fundamental aspects of good governance and human rights-based development".

In addition, the declaration urges Member States "to respect the function of the media, which are an essential factor in good governance and have a key role to play to make decision-making processes more transparent and accountable and communicate the principles of good governance to the citizens".

In order to fulfill their roles, the media must maintain a high level of professionalism, accuracy and impartiality in their coverage. Regulatory frameworks can help ensure high standards. Laws and regulations should ensure fundamental freedoms indispensable to democracy, including freedom of expression, information and participation.

Certain provisions, including requiring the Government media, funded by the State, to provide coverage just elections and equitable access to the opposition parties, allowing to ensure appropriate behavior of the media during elections.

Media usually means the written press, radio and television. Recently, this definition is however expanded to include new media, such as online journalism and social media. Citizen journalism has the wind in its sails, including in countries where traditional media are controlled or strictly regulated.

The right of voters to complete and accurate information, and their right to participate in debates and dialogue on issues of policy and with the men and women in politics, is a major concern for the media coverage of the elections. At the same time, parties and candidates have the right to use the media as a platform to interact with the public.

In addition, the electoral management body (EMB) needs to communicate information to the electorate and various other groups, including political parties and candidates. The media themselves have the right to exercise freely and to examine the whole of the electoral process. This review is a necessary protection against interference or corruption in the management or conduct of the electoral process.

3. NO DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS WITHOUT FREE AND PLURALISTIC MEDIA

Lisa Kammerud in An Integrated Approach to Elections and Conflict April 2012 indicates the elections that have marked the African news of 2011 (see benchmark contemporary Africa, n°239, 2011/3, p. 135) have highlighted the role played by the media in these elections. State media accused of massive support to the head of the outgoing State, regulators of communication suspected of being partisan, significant violations of the rights of journalists, in particular those belonging to the opposition close press... Grievances are often redundant.

And yet, so that elections can be classified as free and democratic, not only they must unfold in political and administrative conditions adequate, but it is important that citizens have sufficient access to information relating to parties, candidates and the conduct of voting, in order to ensure that their choice is informed.

So elections are described as fair and transparent all stakeholders should have the opportunity to express themselves and journalists to travel and investigate as part of their work. In short, democratic elections are simply impossible without freedom of the press (Howard, 2005).

* ⁹ Chirambo, Kondwani and Mccullum, Hugh, Reporting Elections in Southern Africa: A Media Handbook. Windhoek, Namibie : le programme de démocratie durable SARDC. Université de Namibie, Département d'études d'information et de communication, 2000.