The Independent Journalism Center ascertained an increase in the number of tendentious messages and lack of pluralism of opinions in the media that cover the election campaign. In the monitored period, May 15 – 30, a large part of the media outlets focused on the massive promotion of election runners and on the discrediting of the opponents of the favorite candidates, broadcasting and hidden publicity.
In a news conference at IPN, the Center’s director Nadine Gogu said at the five TV channels monitored - Moldova 1, TV 7, Prime, Accent TV, and Canal 2 – the pluralism of opinions was affected by the biased editorial practices and the unilateral coverage of subjects, without alternative opinions. Most of the materials that centered on controversial subjects failed to ensure a balance of sources and didn’t offer the right to reply to the accused sides. A part of the media outlets ensured yet gender equality, even if the tendency to quote mainly men persists.
According to the report, the number of electoral news on Prime doubled, with most of these being tendentious and unbalanced yet. The representatives of the Democratic Party (PDM) were most often quoted and presented in the materials. Such an approach is typical of party press. Canal 2 also massively favored the PDM.
Moldova 1 and TV7 had a relatively balanced and unbiased behavior and ensured the pluralism of sources. Moldova 1 favored slightly the PDM, while TV7 – the Liberal Democratic Party.
Accent TV produced the largest number of electoral news in the monitored period and each fourth news item was biased. If favored considerably the Party of Socialists by positive news about the electoral events and presented the Liberal Party in a bad light, taking particular statements out of context.
