The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A CAMPAIGNER has welcomed proposed changes on election day media coverage - but has warned that it is important voters are able to identify misinformation and verify sources.

Organization of Responsible Governance (ORG) executive director Matt Aubry said the government and civil society organisations as well as media houses need to do more work ahead of the next election to inform voters.

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) announced proposed changes to the “election silence” rules, allowing the broadcast of political discussions on election polling days.

Mr Aubry highlighted the low voter turnout during the 2021 general election, although that may have been affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

He noted that research shows voters are less likely to participate in future elections if they did not vote in the previous one. Therefore, he says educating the public about the voting process and how to make their votes count is essential in preparation for the next election.

“The reality is people get information from a lot of sources and in an instance where we do see low levels of public trust it’s going to be important that they are more educated on how to establish where that information comes from. But I think that becomes a more important process versus establishing the legitimacy of sources of media for people to access or not access or to be silent or not silent.

“The reality is if we can do more work ahead of time and giving people a chance to how to use your vote in a critical way, how to be more mindful and assessing and establishing what is valid media, where sources coming from, that’s going to be more effective than limiting information that can come out at a different time based on source A, source B, or source C.

“So I think it’s important that we look at providing legitimacy in terms of media channels. However, I think the truth is the emphasis needs to be more on ensuring that voters are inept to take advantage of their rights and do so in a way that they’ve been exposed to their own criteria of how to determine what’s important to them or not.”

URCA explained the tradition of election silence originated when traditional broadcasting was the dominate medium.

“However, with the rise of social media, the tradition of election silence may no longer be suitable, particularly in smaller, developing states like The Bahamas, without the resources to regulate third-party digital content-sharing platforms effectively.”

“The inability of licensed media to report on political issues in the 24 hours leading up to an election while anyone else with an internet connection can continue to spread disinformation can seem absurd when viewed from this perspective.”

URCA said there are “legitimate concerns about disinformation” and moratorium periods are a “vulnerability” as they prevent licensed media outlets from reporting or rebutting disinformation spread on social media prior to poles closing.

The regulator said “supports and recommends” the removal of polling day restrictions placed on the media and excluding licensed platforms from sharing information on poling days is a “disservice to the public”.