Sebha, June 13
Journalists and activists participated in a workshop on the guidelines for media coverage of the national general elections on Saturday and Sunday in Sebha, with the participation of 12 journalists, activists and bloggers working in many media outlets
The workshop focused on how to collect and analyze information from electoral constituencies and polling stations. It also shed light on the role of journalist in monitoring and covering all aspects of the electoral process. The workshop was an opportunity to do simulations of drafting news reports related to the coverage of aspects of electoral campaigns and the polling day
The workshop also tackled the basic roles of media in the context of elections, how to prepare for press interviews, and how to conduct balanced coverage of all actors in the electoral process. Executive regulations and electoral laws related to the presidential and legislative elections were introduced to journalists in the workshop
Participants stressed the need to intensify awareness-raising and training campaigns for local journalists, to ensure access to information on all aspects of the electoral process and to activate the role of the Media Centre of the High National Electoral Commission
It is noteworthy that the workshop comes within the initiative of media coverage of the national elections with the aim of training about 140 Libyan journalists on professional rules for media coverage during the national elections
