Broadcasters have been given new rules to prevent a repeat of the “Tweetgate” controversy which erupted during the closing stages of the last presidential election campaign in 2011.
Under the changes from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), broadcasters will be required to display extra caution before they mention tweets during live broadcasts.
“Given the importance of broadcast coverage of elections, additional steps should be implemented by broadcasters to ensure that on-air references to social media are accurate, fair, objective and impartial,” it said.
BAI chief executive Michael O’Keeffe said the authority recognised the growing importance of social media, particularly where viewers follow debates on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as they watch live TV debates.
The new guidelines to broadcasters covering elections come into force immediately for the forthcoming presidential election, but will also apply to all future elections.
Caution
Meanwhile, presenters have been urged to display caution in their social media utterances: “Comments [on social media by presenters] may have the potential to undermine the perceived impartiality of their coverage.
“This is particularly the case where the comments are made by presenters of news and current affairs programming,” the guidelines from the broadcasting regulator states.
Last night, RTÉ noted that it had improved its social media guidelines in the wake of the Tweetgate controversy, and that it had done so in consultation with the BAI.
Meanwhile, the BAI noted that elections “are dynamic events”, adding that fairness and impartiality could be achieved over the course of a campaign, taking into account unanticipated events or changes of circumstance.
