Journalists from 16 national media outlets cover the second round of the presidential campaign aboard the Election Media Bus

The Election Media Bus will take the participating journalists on a route throughout the country to follow the campaigns of the two presidential candidates elected for the second round.

April 7, 2022

The Election Media Bus campign

Dili, April 6, 2022. For four days, 18 journalists from 16 national media outlets will closely track the presidential election process in its second round, following the candidates' campaigns through the Election Media Bus to provide truthfully and evidenced first-hand information of the previous days to the second round election day on April 19.

The Election Media Bus, an initiative implemented by the National Press Council and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the financial support of the Government of Japan, will divide the participant journalists into two groups: each team following the presidential campaign of one of the candidates during their visits according to the presidential campaign calendar.

“UNDP is aware of the important role played by the media in providing evidenced and impartial information to citizens to contribute to more informed decision-making. Through the Election Media Bus, we seek to facilitate the work of journalists to communicate truthfully and effectively at a crucial moment for Timor-Leste in which voters exercise their right to choose in the second round of presidential elections,” addressed Lazima Onta Bhatta, UNDP Officer-in-Charge.

On the other hand, Ms. Kazumi Yamada, the Deputy Chief-of-Mission of the Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste states: “the best way to secure fact-based reporting from credible sources of information, a duty of journalists in election related reporting, is for them to go out to see and hear for themselves what candidates have to say, or how the voting is proceeding at polling stations. This is not as easy as it sounds since these places are often not accessible by public transportation.  I hope the media bus, operated by the Press Council with assistance from the Government of Japan and UNDP, will contribute to providing a solution to this end.”

This activity, which aims to guarantee informed elections and enhance media to provide effective and innovative electoral and COVID-awareness communication, is part of the COVID-Resilient Elections in Timor-Leste electoral project implemented by UNDP with the financial support of the Government of Japan.

For further details, please contact the UNDP’s official in charge at:

Mariano Redondo – Communication Specialist, UNDP CORE-TL Project: 77566742