Promoting professional media coverage of this year’s elections in Mali

More than 60 Malian journalists who cover politics for state and privately-owned media are attending a two-day seminar on “Media Coverage of Mali’s Next Elections and French-Language Reporting” that began today in Bamako. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé, the seminar aims to promote pluralist, responsible and professional coverage of the presidential and parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum that are due to take place in Mali in 2012. Based on the Handbook for Journalists during Elections (in French), which was produced jointly by the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) and Reporters Without Borders, the seminar will enable the participating newspaper, radio and TV journalists to benefit from experiences and practices in other French-speaking countries. Government spokesman and communication minister Sidiki N’Fa Konaté is due to close the seminar. It will be immediately followed by a second two-day seminar on 1-2 February for journalists, political parties and entities involved in election organization on “The Need for Joint Regulation of the Media during Elections.” The two back-to-back seminars are being organized by the OIF and the National Committee for Equal Access to Mali’s State Media (CNEAME) under the 2012-2013 Road Map of the Network of Francophone Media Regulators (REFRAM). As part of the first seminar, Ambroise Pierre, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Africa Desk, is today hosting a debate on “The Rules Applying to Journalists in Normal Times and during Elections.” Contact: Hervé Barraquand
“Media Freedom and Media Pluralism” programme specialist
International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF)
Email: [email protected] Photos (Alou Sissoko) : The speakers, from left to right :
M. Moussa Makan Camara, Representative of the OIF
M. Sidiki N’Fa Konaté, Communication Minister and Spokesman for the government
Madame Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé, Prime Minister
M. Abdoulaye Sidibé, President of the National Committee of equal access to state media
M. Abdoulaye Sall, Minister in charge of Relations with Institutions