The day after the deadline for submitting candidatures expired, with the electoral campaign for the renewal of the European Parliament coming into full swing (election round of Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June 2024), the Order of Journalists of Sicily has updated and integrated the list of 15 FAQs (frequently asked questions) drawn up last year by reformulating the one developed by the National Order of Journalists for the 2022 political elections. The FAQs also refer to the administrative elections which will be held in 37 Municipalities of Sicily with first round on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June 2024 (simultaneously with the European elections) and run-off round, where foreseen, on Sunday 23 June and Monday 24 June 2024. With these updated FAQs the Order of Journalists of Sicily wants to provide timely and unambiguous answers to questions that arise about the role and activity of journalists in the electoral campaign. In analogy to what was done by the National Order, which had spoken with AgCom on this point, also in the reshaping of this document, the Order of Journalists of Sicily has dialogued with the Regional Communications Committee of Sicily, as a functional territorial body of the Communications Regulatory Authority, given the specific responsibilities assigned regarding the protection of pluralism and the monitoring of compliance with the set of provisions aimed at guaranteeing compliance with the electoral level playing field. From this perspective, the list of 15 FAQs also refers to the procedures for reporting any irregularities, even by private citizens, which must be addressed to Corecom Sicilia, with regards to alleged violations of the level playing field, and to the Disciplinary Council. territorial of the Order of Journalists of Sicily, as regards instead behaviors – carried out by members of the Order – which could constitute infringements of professional ethics. The list of FAQs can be consulted on the official websites of the Order of Journalists of Sicily (https://www.odgsicilia.it/giornalisti-e-par-condicio-le-regole-in-campagna-elettorale-n-526.html ) and Corecom Sicilia (https://www.corecomsicilia.it/par-condicio-2-2/).
