Experts analyze performance of Moldovan broadcasters during election campaign

The Electronic Press Association (APEL) is holding public debates on how the television channels in Moldova covered the election campaign during June 2-3, Info-Prim Neo reports. The debates have been organized under the auspices of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections – Coalition 2009 as part of the project “Monitoring the Presence of Political/Electoral Actors on the Main Television Channels during Pre-electoral, Electoral and Post-Electoral Periods 2009”, which is financed by the European Commission’s Delegation to Moldova under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. According to the president of APEL Alexandru Dorogan, the debates themed “Lessons Learnt and Lessons to be Learnt” will focus on the results of the monitoring carried out at nine television channels, the editorial policy of the broadcasters, the presence of the election runners on radio and television, the observance of the people’s right to be objectively and fully informed about the election contenders and the behavior of the authorities responsible for regulating and supervising the covering of the election campaign by the mass media. The organizers aim to examine the electoral process before the recent parliamentary elections in concert with the runners and national and foreign experts, basing on Moldova’s aspirations for European integration and the plans to reach t the European standards and values. The two-day debates will center on the behavior of the television channels from the angle of the national and international experience, the experience of monitoring the covering of the election campaign by the TV services, etc. The debate meetings will be held in the conference hall of Jolly Alon Hotel starting at 9.45.