Most of the media outlets do not ensure pluralism of opinions to the necessary extent and promote the political agenda and candidates of particular parties, shows the first report on the monitoring of the election campaign prior to the June 14 local general elections, produced by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC).
Five online portals and five TV channels, four of which with national coverage, had been monitored during May 1-14.
IJC director Nadine Gogu, in a news conference at IPN, said the monitoring showed that the public TV channel Moldova 1 actively covered the electoral subjects. Most of the information was presented objectively and impartially, but the PL and PDM were slightly favored. The channel used no discriminatory language.
According to the report, neither Prime TV channel committed serious deviations from the deontological norms, but there were recorded four cases of biased attitude of the author. The frequency of appearances of particular election contenders and the angle from which the events were treated showed that this channel favors the PDM and its candidates, as well as the PL slightly. The PLDM and PCRM were presented in a positive light, the PSRM – in a negative light, while the Party “Partidul Nostru” – in a neutral way. The pluralism of opinion was ensured in most of the electoral materials broadcast. The only impartial news referred to a fine for a car owned by the PL.
Canal 2 broadcast a number of propaganda-like features, like those concerning the activity of the PDM. The PDM was evidently favored in the monitored period. Politicians were quoted in most of the news items. There was a powerful imbalance in terms of gender equality.
TV 7 covered relatively the election campaign and in a generally correct manner. The PL and Dorin Chirtoaca appeared most often in the programs of this channel. There was also broadcast a feature that favored directly the PLDM. The channel ensured the pluralism of opinions, but allowed an evident imbalance to the detriment of the female sources.
Accent TV was relatively active in covering electoral subjects directly or indirectly. 50% of the broadcast materials referred to three election runners: the Party “Partidul Nostru”, the PSRM and the Party “Casa Noastra Moldova”. The channel favored mainly the Party “Partidul Nostru” and the PSRM. The PL was presented mainly in a negative light. In the period it didn’t ensure the diversity of sources and its news articles quoted mainly politicians. The pluralism of opinions in situations of conflict wasn’t ensured.
In conclusion, Nadine Gogu said that in the monitored period the conflicting sides weren’t equally presented in most of the materials referring to controversial subjects or accusations. The monitored media outlets do not electorally educate the voters and do not make effort to ensure gender equality.
