Media

Framework for Action

The mandate of the EU EOM in the Democratic Republic of Congo will conduct an analysis of the electoral process following the procedures and compliance with the electoral law and carry out a balanced and impartial assessment of the elections. In this context, a media section observes and analyzes the press behavior, namely the written press, radio and television media before, during and after the campaign. This section of the EU EOM has six specialists who will conduct the monitoring of national media.

The main analysis criteria for media observers of a EU EOM are:

• Fair access of political parties and candidates to the media
• Respect the media code of conduct, regulations and rules issued by the regulatory authority about their role and their behavior during the election campaign and on election day
• The opportunity for the public to acquire enough information to form an objective opinion of the candidates and for voters to make an informed choice on election day
• Monitoring of breaches in the media, if any.

Methodology

Based in Kinshasa, our six national experts have been trained following a methodology that has been applied in the EU EOMs for over ten years now. Located in the EU EOM media monitoring center, these media specialists work under the supervision of a media analyst. They observe qualitatively and quantitatively a range of print and broadcast media in the DRC.

Throughout the period of the electoral campaign, our specialists record and analyze news bulletins as well as political and advertising programs, electoral radio and television debates, newspaper articles, to quantify the air time (in seconds) and space (in cm2) reserved for political actors and candidates.

A database includes all political actors likely to have greater visibility in the media during the campaign. The raw data analyzed by the database are expressed as graphs illustrating the overall activity of the media analyzed on a specific time. All this detailed and careful analysis allows to obtain an objective and impartial role of the media during the electoral campaig

Media monitoring is an effective tool for promoting fundamental rights related to the freedom of press and participation in public life.

Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

The visibility of political groups' actors, and the quality and impartiality of their observation, the outcome of the campaign, civic education provided to voters is analyzed, and also violations of various laws that regulate the media and their activities.

Qualitative analysis takes into account the legislation, access to advertising as a source of income, access to printing houses, and access to information. It also assesses the tone of the campaign as well as freedom of expression and opinion. The online news sites are also included in this qualitative analysis.