INDEPENDENT MEDIA

Democratic Elections and Media

II. JOURNALISTS' OPINION

2.1. FRAME

200 journalists from 30 media outlets based in Ulaanbaatar were questioned and it reprsents app. 10% of working journalists. Respondents work in the news and current affairs and who were active in covering elections.

Table 7 . Media representation

Journalists play an important role in a democratic society to serve public ineterst Democratic elections are the first possibility and practical action of citizens to exercise their rights to direct participation in state affairs. Publc interest gets more crucial during the elections. Role of ethical journalism is getting higher and fair journalism contributes to future of the country and protection of democratic values.

Journalists replied to question:" How to support ethical journalism?"

Table 8 Professional ethics

22% of respondents said they do not want to follow ethical principles and they explained reasons: " money is power in our society", " because of wishes of those, who in the power" and " I will loose the sensational moment". The rest, 78% consider it is not possible to be ethical under strong censhorship.

2.2. CENSORSHIP

Censorship is the most strict way of restriction of freedom of expression. In Mongolia censorship is banned by the Law on Media Freedom, 1998. It is real threaty that journalists suffer from censorship.

Table 9. Type of censorship

100% - of respondents said self-censhorship is existed and they replied to question WHY? in the following ways:
29% - no any strong organisation that is able to protect my rights and interests
27.5% - afraid from prison because of unfavourable legal environment
15.5% - afraid to be called by police nad other force institutions
9% - afraid to be punished or fired from job
7% - afraid from inabilility to prove information source
3% - do not know the reason
1% - afraid from Mr. N.Enkhbayar, PM

III. CONCLUSION

1. Journalists experience strong censorship while exercising thier professional duties

2. Implementation of Media Freedom Law is not sufficient and media freedom is strictly limited in the practice.

3. Media cannot be fair and serve the public interest in the case if media environment is not favourable, particularly immediate liberalisation of Mongolian Radio and TV is important

4. Media guidelines on election coverage are urgent need in Mongolia.

5. Journalsts need efficient short-term training on election coverage

6. Journalists' organisation is not capable to protect journalists' rights

IV. RECCOMENDATIONS

- Encourage immediate legislation of public service broadcasting
- Conduct wide campaign against censorship
- Conduct monitoring on breaches of Media Freedom Law and journalists' rights
- Promote drafting National Principles on Election Coverage of broadcast media, particularly TV guidelines cooperating with General Election Committee, political parties based on international standards
- Promote development of national Code of Ethics and self-regulation body
- Provide short-term training for journalists on independent journalism coverage such as debates of candidates, analytical programmes on election platforms of political parties and so on

V. FINAL REMARK

Globe International has translated and printed Media guidelines on election coverage of 10 countries and its comparative study, and "Guidelines for election broadcasting in transitional countries" produced by London-based ARTICLE 19 in the framework of project "Democratic Elections and Media". We hope these important sources will serve as main reference documents for the Elections of Local Parliament and Presidential Elections coming next years.