WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE STATE MEDIA IN AN ELECTION YEAR?

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The GRTS is the state broadcaster. It is required by section 208 of the Constitution to broadcast divergent views and dissenting opinion.

It is very common in Senegal to see political leaders and civil society representatives on Senegalese TV and radio aimed at informing the Senegalese public through the divergent views of others. On TV many programmes are organised where APRC stalwarts are given opportunity to promote the ruling party and denounce the Opposition. This is not civil in any way.

It is therefore important for the political parties in the country to engage PURA to find out how it intends to assert the principle of fair play in the broadcasting sector as an oversight institution. Its primary role is to ensure fair play. In this regard GRTS is overplaying its hand in promoting a single party at the expense of others.