Abidjan: Ensure Fair Coverage Of Local Elections

Abidjan, Sep 27 (AIP) - Raphaël Lakpé, President of the National Press Authority (ANP), a regulatory authority for online and print media in Côte d'Ivoire, has asked the Ivorian News Agency (AIP) and the daily Fraternité Matin to ensure fair coverage of the October 13 regional and municipal elections.

"It's true that it's not about presidential elections, but you have to be fair in the coverage of the election campaign.

Fairness is not equality, but we count on the professionalism of your journalists" he added.

The ANP President reminded the public service media of their obligation to be "balanced in their reports' and to see to it that they provided equal access to all the candidates.

It was also important that the law against election advertising in the public service media was respected.

He announced ANP's coverage plan for the elections.

The heads of the two state-owned media - Traoré Mamadou, Editor-in-Chief the AIP, and Amédé Assi, Editorial Head of Fraternité Matin Group, pledged to remain professional in the elections coverage.

The election campaign opens, tomorrow, Friday at midnight.