Election Handbook for Caribbean Journalists

From the Foreword: “This Handbook is part of an attempt to enhance the quality of media reportage of elections in the English-speaking Caribbean. It has been designed by journalists for journalists. It is the work of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) – a network of journalists spanning the Caribbean Basin, established in 2001 and currently headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago…It is now generally recognised that an unfettered media play a critical role in promoting democratic values. The independent work of journalists in covering elections can also serve as a catalyst for promoting the democratic conduct and outcomes of such exercises….

The sections covered by the Handbook pay attention to areas of critical concern to journalists engaged in covering elections, the electoral contestants and the electorates that largely constitute the consumer base for media. It is by no means an exhaustive journalistic resource and is meant to supplement other information reporters are able to access through other means. Hopefully, media owners and managers will recognise the importance of the self-examination this work promotes and will encourage their newsrooms to pay attention to the main issues covered not only at election time.”

Contents include the following:

1. Elections and the Media
2. Elements of an Election
3. Covering the Campaign
4. Election Rules and Regulations
5. Opinion Polls and Pollsters
6. The Rise of the Internet
7. Covering Election Results
8. Comparative Study of Electoral Laws
9. Guyana – A Case Study in Self-Regulation
10. Campaign Financing and Media Advertising

You can read ‘Election Handbook for Caribbean Journalists’ here Election Handbook for Caribbean Journalists