Manx Radio Election Coverage

How does Manx Radio cover an election?

Throughout the campaign, we operate under the Elections (Keys and Local Authorities) Act 2020 and the Communications Bill 2018, which require us to provide balanced and fair coverage.

Six weeks before the election, we will enter the pre-election period, which is also known as 'purdah'.

It begins with the publication of the Notice of Election and runs until the election has taken place.

During that time, restrictions are placed on civil servants, who are bound by law to remain impartial.

These restrictions include a ban on publicising the views of political parties, issuing press releases or promoting initiatives with quotes and photos from a particular political member, which could be seen as unfairly promoting one political agenda over another.

Essentially, any activity which could call into question government's political impartiality or give rise to criticism that public resources are being used for party political purposes or 'electioneering' is suspended during this period. 

While Manx Radio employees are not civil servants, we are limited by the rules of purdah in terms of who we're able to speak to during this time, and about what. 

 

What will Manx Radio ask of candidates?

As soon as a candidate declares their intention to stand, we will send them a link to our  Are You Standing?' form.

This allows candidates to introduce themselves to voters in their own words and ensures we have accurate information from the very start.

Using this information, we will publish an initial candidate profile article, giving voters a clear overview of who is standing and why.

All candidates will be invited to record a “Two Minutes to Tell Us” video - a short, direct message to voters explaining why they believe they deserve their support.

When a candidate releases their manifesto, we will invite them to take part in a 25-minute interview with one of our journalists. The full conversation will be available as a podcast, with selected highlights broadcast on air.

Each candidate will have their own dedicated page on our website, which will include:

• Their profile article
• Interview content and clips
• “Two Minutes to Tell Us” video
• Manifesto (where available)

In the final weeks before polling day, we will host constituency debates. Once nominations close and the full list of candidates is confirmed, every candidate will be invited to take part in the debate for their constituency.

From time to time, we may also offer additional opportunities to participate in special features and when we do, those invitations will always be extended to all candidates equally.

It’s important to note that while the same opportunities will be offered to everyone standing in the election, participation is entirely voluntary.

 

Fact Checking and AI

In today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever to be aware of misleading information and publications.

As we head towards the 2026 House of Keys General Election, Manx Radio is committed to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, transparency and editorial integrity - especially at a time when artificial intelligence and digital tools can produce content that looks trustworthy but may actually be misleading or false.

Accuracy isn’t just about getting the facts right, it’s also about fairly representing different viewpoints, handling claims responsibly and putting information into the right context.

Wherever possible, our journalists gather information first-hand. We carefully check facts and statistics (including any limitations), verify documents and digital material, back up claims with reliable sources, and avoid relying on a single source unless it’s clearly credible and on the record.

We always put accuracy before speed. If something can’t be fully verified, we will make that clear to our audience.

We don’t automatically assume that user-generated content is accurate. Any such material is clearly labelled, closely examined for potential bias or hidden interests, and checked for completeness. Even sources that appear reliable online don’t always turn out to be genuine, so we routinely check where digital material comes from and how trustworthy it is.

We work hard to separate fact from rumour - especially on social media, where misinformation can spread quickly and corrections often don’t get the same attention. Anything taken from the internet to support a claim is given extra scrutiny.

We also actively look for misleading or AI-generated content.  

But no system is perfect, so if you ever see anything on our platforms that doesn’t seem genuine or accurate, we strongly encourage you to let us know so we can review it.

You can contact us here.