Staying safe amidst the electoral frenzy as journalists brace for October election
Thomas Nkhoma | Sunday May 5, 2024 04:50
Accordingly, as Batswana become part of this 2.6 billion people later in October, we are entering a period that will be characterised by both excitement and fierce electoral competition among candidates and their respective political formations. It is, therefore, imperative that journalists covering these events are well informed of potential challenges they may encounter during this silly season.
While Botswana generally offers a conducive environment for press freedom, incidents witnessed during the 2019 General Election and subsequent by-elections thereof, suggest, albeit remotely, that there is a possibility of journalists encountering hostility or facing accusations of bias. Consequently, it is important that, notwithstanding, journalists must prioritise their safety and adhere to journalistic principles of accuracy and fairness, especially given the unpredictable nature of the evolving political landscape that we have witnessed in some parts of the world.
Safety awareness Foremost, journalists must as of necessity prioritise safety awareness. According to UNESCO - World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: 2021/2022 Online Report – 455 journalists were killed globally for their work or while on the job between 2016 and end of 2021. On International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists in 2023, UNESCO noted a concerning increase in violence against journalists during election periods (January 2019 - June 2022). During this period, there were 759 individual attacks against journalists and five killings recorded across 89 elections in 70 countries. It is, therefore, critical for journalists to stay abreast of the political and security situation leading up to the elections in their areas of operation. While in Botswana the current atmosphere may be relatively calm, as tensions escalate and temperatures rise, the environment could become highly charged and volatile. As such, ensuring the protection of journalists, including safeguarding them from physical harm that may arise from violence during the electoral cycle (pre-, during, and post-election periods), calls for more action and counter measures. During this period, journalists may endure psychological strain because of fear for reprisals, hostility, or ostracism as they go about their duties. This happened during the 2019 General Election, whereby we observed instances of journalists from the Sunday Standard newspaper being forcibly removed from a political rally. In recent times, journalists have been increasingly exposed to digital threats, including doxxing, digital surveillance and disinformation campaigns. In addition, there seemed to be an emerging trend whereby certain officials and political figures embarked on unauthorised disclosure of journalists' personal data, including their contact details, on social media platforms (doxxing) as a form of retaliation. Such dissemination of journalists' personal data exposes them to targeted attacks as was the cases with journalists Kealeboga Dihutso and Kabo Ramasia. It creates a hostile environment that impedes their ability to perform their duties without fear of reprisals. Therefore, it must be recognised that this pervasive threat of personal data exposure on social media platforms can deter journalists from pursuing critical stories, investigating sensitive issues or engaging in rigorous investigative journalism. Thus, an unsafe environment for journalists engenders a situation whereby they avoid investigative reporting on corruption allegations involving political figures, refrain from criticising government policies or election processes and steer clear of controversial topics that could provoke backlash. The most unfortunate effect is that it deprives the public of vital information especially during such a critical period of elections where voters must make informed choices.
Safety as a measure What then can journalists and their media houses do to ensure their safety and protection during the election period? Most importantly, there is need to organise safety and conflict reporting training sessions to enhance the journalists’ preparedness for potential risks. There is need to develop contingency plans for various scenarios, including emergencies or unexpected events. There are certain guidelines that journalists must follow in order to ensure their safety at all times. First, they must embark on risk assessments to identify potential hazards and vulnerabilities (Assessing the political environment, previous instances of violence or harassment against journalists). It is also important to conduct safety training on conflict-sensitive reporting, digital security, first aid, risk mitigation strategies and protocols for responding to threats or attacks. Security measures must be put in place and observed such as traveling in groups, using secure communication channels, wearing press identification badges and avoiding high-risk areas or situations. There is also need for emergency protocols whereby journalists understand procedures for reporting threats or attacks as well as seeking assistance from authorities or support organisations and providing medical or legal assistance if needed. Collaboration and solidarity are key in that journalists must learn to share information about potential risks or threats. They must work together in coordinating coverage plans and advocating for each other's safety and rights in case of harassment or attacks. Further, understanding legal frameworks and rights for journalists as enshrined in Section 12 of the Botswana Constitution besides electoral laws providing for access to polling stations and election-related events, is equally important. The Media Practitioner Association Act also outlines the rights and responsibilities of media practitioners and procedures for obtaining media accreditation for covering events, including elections.
Handling challenging situations There are also strategies for handling challenging situations during the election period and these include having a valid press card and official credentials issues by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), clearly displaying, media credentials and identification badges as well as asking for security personnel or security escorts particularly in high-risk areas or volatile environments. Digital security and safety should be part of everyday protocols such that journalists use encrypted communication tools and secure messaging platforms, besides limiting visibility of personal information and posts. Journalists must guard against phishing social engineering by adopting secure browsing practices. This is because cyber attackers may use phishing emails, fake websites or social engineering tactics to trick journalists into revealing sensitive information or credentials.
Why is media safety important in election environment? At the end of it all, one may wonder why is media safety important in election environment? Foremost, we must understand and accept that media safety during election periods, preserves press freedom, which ideally fosters accurate and unbiased coverage of election events. It ensures democratic integrity deriving from credibility of the electoral process and promotes transparency and accountability if journalists are free to investigate electoral irregularities, corruption and human rights abuses. Besides mitigating risks, media safety prevents self-censorship in that journalists work confidently and assertively, even under challenging circumstances. Most critically, it fosters public trust and builds confidence among citizens, which contributes to a more informed and engaged electorate. Last but not least, it safeguards public information such that voters make informed choices and participate effectively in the democratic process. *THOMAS NKHOMA is Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana chapter chairperson, he writes in his personal capacity.