With the 2026 elections just months away, the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) is launching a major initiative to train journalists in ethical and balanced election reporting.
Beginning Monday, September 22, 2025, HAAC, in partnership with the Hirondelle Foundation and with support from France Médias Monde and Radio France Internationale (RFI), will host a five-day workshop for media professionals in Cotonou.
The programme, the first of two workshops, will bring together 24 journalists from RFI’s partner radio stations across Benin. According to HAAC, 22 of the participants hail from the country’s interior, a deliberate effort to strengthen reporting in regions that typically receive less media coverage.
The training will address all critical aspects of election reporting, including the legal and ethical obligations of journalists, combating disinformation, covering campaigns and election day events, managing the announcement of results, and ensuring journalist safety in the field.
Experts, led by RFI Africa service journalist Magali Lagrange, will guide participants through both theoretical discussions and practical exercises.
“Participants will engage in mock reports, vox pops, debates, interviews, and role-plays covering political rallies,” said HAAC officials.
Each day will focus on a distinct phase of the electoral process, highlighting balanced speaking time, pluralism, and the inclusion of young people and women in media coverage. Social responsibility will also form a central theme of the sessions.
The workshops aim to equip journalists with the skills needed to provide accurate, impartial, and reliable information during a high-stakes electoral period. The legislative and municipal elections are scheduled for January 11, 2026, followed by the presidential election with the first round on April 12 and a potential runoff on May 10.
For HAAC, preparing journalists ahead of the elections is a strategic step to ensure that the media can uphold its role as a guarantor of credible information and help citizens make informed decisions. The initiative reflects a growing emphasis on professionalising journalism in Benin’s rapidly evolving political landscape.
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