INDEPENDENT MEDIA

Free and Fair

Guidelines to be followed by journalists during an election campaign

When reporting during an election the journalists must remain constantly aware of their responsibility towards the general public and respect the freedom of information based on the Article 19 of the Pact on Citizens and Political Rights, and follow the following principles:

- The reporting shall be accurate and based on facts.

- Reporting shall not be persuasi ve of personal feelings and ideas upon the public, and the reporting shall not sway or influence the public on who to vote for and who not to

- Actions and events that are unjust and dishonest, which c ould have effect on election campaign shall not be suppressed or covered up.

- Distinguish clearly between paid and unpaid advertising for the general public when using publicly funded media outlets .

- Publishing the findings or results of opinion poll shall identify the poll's sponsor or source.

- Reporter's name shall be stated when broadcasting, publishing or reporting.

- Published news reports or assertions subsequently found to be incorrect must be promptly and appropriately corrected by the publication concerned.

- The identity of informants must be kept in confidentiality, when the information or material concerned is classified or critical.

Adopted by the Confederation of Mongolian Journalists in collaboration with the
Mongolian newspaper associations and
Mongolian free newspaper association

on April 4, 2004 , Ulaanbaatar city.