Elections Coverage Workshop

Participants at IFES-funded election coverage workshop

Sixteen Arab reporters and editors participated in a four-day elections coverage workshop conducted in February by the Journalism Training Program (JTP) in a bid to improve skills in questioning candidates, tracking polls, monitoring legislation, observing vote counting, eyeing funding, and maintaining ethical standards.

"The workshop enriched our experience and introduced us to colleagues from other Arab countries," said Ittihad Darwish, a legislative reporter for Lebanon's state-run National News Agency," adding that she hoped more such events would be available to journalists.

Organized by the funder IFES, formally known as the International Foundation for Election Systems, the workshop drew enthusiastic journalists from Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Morocco, who were briefed by Arda Ekmekji of Haigazian University who served on the Boutros Commission that is proposing new electoral legislation.

Also on hand were UPI Middle East bureau chief Dalal Saoud, elections expert Yara Nassar, pollster Jawad Adra, Asharq Al-Awsat editor Sanaa El Jack, IFES researcher Chantal Sarkis Hanna, AUB professor Nabil Dajani, and JTP director Magda Abu-Fadil.

"I am now aware that one's voting right in secret is a holy right," wrote Norma Khansa of the Middle East Reporter in her post-workshop evaluation. Participants had been briefed on the importance of balloting secrecy and the need for elections to be conducted in an atmosphere of safety for all involved.