Журнал Viche 2012 №20

№20, 2012

The European standards of the coverage of the election campaigns and access of candidates to mass-media

In Europe much attention is traditionally paid to the establishment of rules of activity of mass media during the electoral process. Exactly during this period the responsibility belongs more than usually to mass media [1]. It is connected with that during the special period before elections the state is obliged to guarantee not only the right to the freedom of speech and freedom of mass media but also other no less important rights. These are, first and foremost, the rights of the candidates (passive electoral right is a right to be elected, a right to nondiscrimination, a right to freedom of opinion and expression), and the rights of electors (the right to complete and true to life information about the candidates and about the electoral process, active election right is the right to vote).

Taras SHEVCHENKO