VIENNA, 3 October 2023 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, issued today a communiqué underscoring the pivotal role of media freedom during elections. She urged authorities of all OSCE participating States and electoral contenders to uphold their democratic duty by respecting and safeguarding the crucial democratic role of the media, especially during election periods.

The communiqué highlights that a robust, free, and independent media is foundational to democratic societies, serving as a key catalyst for informed citizenry and fair elections. The electoral period, being a central part of democratic governance, necessitates a media landscape thriving on diverse, accurate information that allows voters to make informed decisions.

“In recent years, we have witnessed a drastic increase in verbal assaults against the media by politicians and candidates, thereby eroding journalistic credibility and public trust in media. Such undermining actions, especially by those who themselves play a key role in the democratic process, are unacceptable as they escalate the risk of assaults on journalists and foment distrust in media,” Ribeiro said.

“In the contemporary fast-paced information ecosystem, safeguarding the media’s central democratic role is increasingly challenging. Although this has resulted in new opportunities to access information, it has also generated new threats for the integrity of free and fair democratic elections,” Ribeiro stressed.

At the same time, she underlined the positive potential of new technologies in reinforcing democratic processes. “Social media platforms could significantly contribute to fostering an active and well-informed citizenry. In order to create the right conditions and define the parameters, a collaborative endeavor involving lawmakers, tech companies, civil society, and international organizations is essential,” Ribeiro stated.

The Representative concluded by noting the important role that public service media and media regulators have, especially during election periods. “They need to ensure that candidates and parties in the political process have equitable access to the public, so that the public has access to impartial, accurate and diverse information on election-related issues. In order to do so, public authorities should ensure the impartiality of public service media and the media regulators, with independent board members and independent oversight mechanisms.”