The Guidelines in Respect of Broadcast Coverage of Electoral Events confirm the new Additional Care Requirement, which replaced the Broadcast Moratorium last year
Coimisiún na Meán has today (15.09.25) published its Guidelines in Respect of Broadcast Coverage of Electoral Events, in advance of the upcoming Presidential Election. The Guidelines consolidate the previously separate guidance for elections and referendums and provide direction for broadcasters on how to achieve fairness, objectivity and impartiality in their coverage of electoral events.
The Guidelines confirm the decision taken by Coimisiún na Meán last year to replace the Broadcast Moratorium with an Additional Care Requirement for broadcasters during the Critical Election Period.
The Critical Election Period is in place from 7am on the day before polling begins until polls close on voting day (usually 10pm). During this period, broadcasters are required to take a higher level of editorial care – the Additional Care Requirement – in their coverage of the election.
Commenting on the publication of the Guidelines, Coimisiún na Meán’s Broadcasting and Video-on-Demand Commissioner Aoife MacEvilly said: ‘’A media landscape that supports democracy and democratic values, underpins civic discourse, and reduces the impact of disinformation is a key focus for Coimisiún na Meán. During election periods, broadcasters play a crucial role in keeping the public informed on the candidates who are contesting the election, and on the issues that are at stake in the campaign.
For us in Coimisiún na Meán, it is critical that the public can be confident that the information they receive from broadcasters is fair, objective and impartial, so that they can make informed choices on polling day. The Guidelines published today are designed to help broadcasters to meet their obligations and to support the public to exercise their democratic rights.’’
The Additional Care Requirement has been established to ensure broadcasters exercise additional editorial care, in recognition that new information, including breaking news stories broadcast during the Critical Election Period can have an impact on the electoral process.
The Additional Care Requirement does not prohibit broadcast coverage of the electoral event, issues relevant to the campaign, coverage of candidates or new information, but sets out considerations for broadcasters during the Critical Election Period. This is to ensure that the coverage by broadcasters is in keeping with the Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs. Reporting on or discussion of opinion polls and exit polls or speculation on the outcome of a vote is not permitted during polling hours.
Coimisiún na Meán has also restated its opinion that it is not appropriate for election candidates to present programmes during the election campaign period, which commences once the election has been called. The Guidelines provide further clarification that where a programme has been recorded prior to the election period and is scheduled to air during the campaign, it is a matter for broadcasters to decide on a case-by-case basis whether it is appropriate to broadcast such a programme during a campaign period. News and current affairs programmes presented by election candidates, whether live or pre-recorded, are not permitted during the election campaign.
Broadcasters are also reminded of the requirements to achieve a fair allocation of airtime during election coverage, the prohibition on political advertisements and the requirement to have in place policies and procedures for handling on-air contributions via social media and to mitigate the risks of AI-generated deepfakes.
The effective date for the Guidelines is Monday, 22nd September.