Komsomoliskaya Pravda, Makler and Comunistul are the most read newspapers nationwide, shows a study conducted by the Marketing and Polling Institute IMAS. Prime TV is the most popular TV channel, while Radio Noroc is the most popular radio station, Info-Prim Neo reports. The results of the study were presented in a news conference on April 21. Audience was measured according to the Day After Recall method, which is used in most of the international measuring systems. The study was commissioned by the Independent Journalism Center. Nadine Gogu, director of the Independent Journalism Center, said the study covered a sample of 1,734 persons from 64 settlements, including Chisinau, Balti, and Comrat. It has a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.6%. “Two audience studies will be carried out within the Development of Mass Media Capacity in Moldova, including Gagauzia Project. One was conducted last month, while the other one will be done in December. There will be also performed training, consultancy, and assistance activities. The Gagauz mass media will be assisted in developing their websites,” Nadine Gogu said. According to Doru Petruti, director of IMAS-INC Chisinau, the study includes a large database. “With the help of the Independent Journalism Center, the study was extended to rural areas and thus it became national,” he said. Doru Petruti also said that the study covered 1,132 persons from urban areas, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9%, and 602 persons from rural areas, with a margin of +/- 4.0%. He stressed that 10% of the population reads papers daily. The national study of the audience of the print media, radio and TV was carried out between March 2 and 30, 2011. The Development of Mass Media Capacity in Moldova, including Gagauzia Project is supported financially by Civil Rights Defenders, previously known as the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights.