New Brunswick Municipal Elections – May 2026

Our Commitment

CHCO-TV and The Courier is committed to providing fair, balanced, and informative coverage of the New Brunswick municipal elections. Our goal is to help voters make informed decisions by ensuring all candidates are treated equitably and consistently, regardless of profile, experience, or resources. This policy outlines how we will cover the election and how fairness will be maintained throughout the campaign period.

Principles Guiding Our Coverage

Our election coverage is guided by the following principles:

  • Fairness: All eligible candidates are offered the same baseline opportunities for coverage.
  • Consistency: Formats, questions, word limits, and deadlines are identical for all participants.
  • Transparency: Our coverage rules and limitations are publicly available.
  • Independence: Coverage is free from political influence, endorsements, or advocacy.
  • Public Interest: Our focus is on issues, governance, and voter education.

Candidate Eligibility

Election coverage is limited to candidates who are:

  • Officially registered with Elections New Brunswick, and
  • Running for municipal office within our coverage area.

Candidates must opt in and meet stated deadlines to be included in certain coverage elements.

Equal Access Coverage

Every eligible candidate who opts in by the stated deadline will be offered the following baseline coverage:

  • A standardized written questionnaire that informs a candidate profile published in the same format, layout, and word length as all others

Content is not edited for tone, message, or political position. It will not be included in the print edition of The Courier due to time sensitivity and its publication schedule.

Questionnaires & Profiles

  • All candidates receive identical questions
  • Responses are subject to strict word limits, 100-150 words per response
  • Answers are published in full and in the same order
  • Late or incomplete submissions may not be published

Failure to participate does not result in additional coverage elsewhere.

Social Media Coverage

Our social media election content follows the same fairness principles:

  • Equal number of posts per candidate
  • Consistent format and length
  • No paid promotion of individual candidates
  • Posting order is alphabetical or randomized

What We Do Not Do

To maintain fairness and independence, CHCO-TV/The Courier:

  • Does not endorse candidates
  • Does not publish political advertising disguised as news
  • Does not adjust coverage based on polling, popularity, or incumbency
  • Does not provide additional exposure outside established formats

Corrections & Concerns

We are committed to accuracy and accountability.

  • Errors will be corrected promptly and transparently
  • Candidates may raise concerns by contacting news@chco.tv
  • All concerns are reviewed using the same standards

Corrections do not result in additional coverage beyond the correction itself

Staff Conduct

Staff involved in election coverage are expected to:

  • Maintain political neutrality in their professional roles
  • Avoid public advocacy for candidates or parties
  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest

Policy Review

This policy applies for the duration of the municipal election campaign and may be updated if required. Any changes will be publicly noted.