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 pre-recorded 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.