EU Highlights Urgent Need for Journalist Training and Fact-Checking Initiatives

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the Maldives released a review of the media landscape during the 2023 presidential elections, emphasizing the urgent need for journalist training and fact-checking initiatives. The report highlights that the media environment is plagued by political polarization, partisanship in ownership, limited journalistic capacity, and lack of investigative journalism. Financial dependence on state-owned enterprises leads to self-censorship. Vague wording in the Constitution and the Evidence Act of 2022 contribute to a climate of self-censorship regarding terrorism and national security. The Maldives Broadcasting Commission and Maldives Media Council face financial constraints. Media monitoring showed imbalance: PSM News blurred campaign and presidential duties, while Channel 13 focused on the PPMPNC coalition and Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The EU EOM recommends training for journalists and editors and supporting civil society fact-checking to ensure balanced and ethical media.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the Maldives released a review of the media landscape during the 2023 presidential elections, emphasizing the urgent need for journalist training and fact-checking initiatives. The report highlights that the media environment is plagued by political polarization, partisanship in ownership, limited journalistic capacity, and lack of investigative journalism. Financial dependence on state-owned enterprises leads to self-censorship. Vague wording in the Constitution and the Evidence Act of 2022 contribute to a climate of self-censorship regarding terrorism and national security. The Maldives Broadcasting Commission and Maldives Media Council face financial constraints. Media monitoring showed imbalance: PSM News blurred campaign and presidential duties, while Channel 13 focused on the PPMPNC coalition and Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The EU EOM recommends training for journalists and editors and supporting civil society fact-checking to ensure balanced and ethical media.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the Maldives released a review of the media landscape during the 2023 presidential elections, emphasizing the urgent need for journalist training and fact-checking initiatives. The report highlights that the media environment is plagued by political polarization, partisanship in ownership, limited journalistic capacity, and lack of investigative journalism. Financial dependence on state-owned enterprises leads to self-censorship. Vague wording in the Constitution and the Evidence Act of 2022 contribute to a climate of self-censorship regarding terrorism and national security. The Maldives Broadcasting Commission and Maldives Media Council face financial constraints. Media monitoring showed imbalance: PSM News blurred campaign and presidential duties, while Channel 13 focused on the PPMPNC coalition and Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The EU EOM recommends training for journalists and editors and supporting civil society fact-checking to ensure balanced and ethical media.

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