The entries in this section will examine some of the technical questions involved in regulating the activities of political parties and candidates for public office during election campaigns. For example, even if public broadcasting time is allocated fairly between political parties and candidates, this may constitute a small island of fairness amid a rough sea of injustice. This is because such broadcasts are only a small part of the output of public broadcasting. It will examine, in particular, the unfair advantages which governments can gain, even if they stick to the letter of the rules relating to the election campaign itself. Political parties often maintain permanent organizations at national, regional, and local levels.
Government leaders are likely to make every attempt to manipulate public opinion.
If they face restrictions in the election period itself, they will try to gain every possible advantage in the weeks and months that precede that campaign. First, there are many possible abuses of public broadcasting, if the executives who run the television and radio stations are in the pockets of the government. The time allocated to parties for election broadcasts will usually be relatively insignificant when compared with total broadcasting output. How news reports are compiled and presented is even more important. Public opinion may also be affected by discussion programmes, plays, and even soap operas.