Election Notes

Here's a screen grab of the new election graphics, designed by Musthafa. It finally began running the day before I left Maldives! To differentiate TVM's "fair and free" coverage of the country's first democratic election, my consulting team recommended changing the election brand from the former "Maldives Decides" to "The People Decide 2008." We stuck with the colors from the Maldivian flag to avoid any appearance of favoring any partisan colors like DRP's dark blue or MDP's bright yellow. The turquoise letters in the graphic simply reflect the color of the ocean in this island nation.
This graphic, with music, runs at the beginning and end of the political segment of the news. While this makes the political coverage stand out, it also puts the fairness of the coverage under a microscope. At the same time, the 20 atoll bureaus are now fully staffed with mostly green but eager new recruits who don't always realize that every story they cover will be judged in a politically charged atmosphere.
For an example, check out this letter on Minivan News. Here's the link: http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=4879
An update on the construction of an island's new mosque is pretty standard content for a package from an atoll reporter. However, every story will now be judged as promoting the government if the project is going well, or promoting the opposition if the project has problems. It is more important that ever for atoll reporters to tell ALL sides and to have their scripts approved by a manager to make sure they are fair and balanced.
Update:
As I write this from California, there's word that Gasim Ibrahim of the Villa business empire has become the presidential candidate of the Maldives Republican party. The clock is still ticking toward the Oct. 10 deadline to have an elected president in place to take office on November 11. At least two parties have called for a delay, but the Majlis rejected that option and passed an election bill that firms up the Oct. 10 date. But there is still NO date set for voters to go to the polls. Once again, it all comes down to the cultural tendency here to do everything at the last minute.