BCI Maintains Existing Policy On Moratoriums For By-Elections

meath | arts and media | other press Wednesday February 23, 2005 15:28 by BCI

''The moratorium is used in times of general elections and referenda as an additional mechanism to ensure that fairness and balance are achieved by the broadcast media during the final 24 hours before polling commences or while polling is underway. This allows voters a period for reflection in the final stages of a campaign.''

For Release February 23rd 2005

BCI Maintains Existing Policy On Moratoriums For By-Elections

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has today (February 23rd) announced that a 24 hour moratorium on coverage of the by-elections on 11th March 2005 in Meath and Kildare North will not apply.

At its board meeting on Monday last, the Commission considered whether the moratorium should be enforced for the upcoming by-elections. The Commission has not traditionally operated a moratorium for by-elections and decided not to deviate from this policy.

Chief Executive Michael O’Keeffe said: “As the by-elections do not form part of a national election poll, the Commission has decided not to enforce the 24 hour moratorium. The Commission will be writing to the national independent radio and television stations and also the local commercial stations in the relevant constituencies to reiterate the requirement that they must ensure fairness and balance in the exposure given to all candidates and interests under Section 9 of the Radio and Television Act, 1988.”

The Commission will review the impact of this policy on news coverage during the by-elections to inform deliberations on its future policy in relation to the moratorium.


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Media Queries to-

Catherine Logan or Aoife Clabby
Fleishman-Hillard Saunders BCI
01 6188462/086 8114785 01 6441200

Note:
The moratorium is used in times of general elections and referenda as an additional mechanism to ensure that fairness and balance are achieved by the broadcast media during the final 24 hours before polling commences or while polling is underway. This allows voters a period for reflection in the final stages of a campaign.