The electoral candidates in most of the cases were presented neutrally by the ten TV channels that were monitored by the Independent Journalism Center during October 7-14. Incumbent President Igor Dodon, who runs independently, being supported by the Party of Socialists (PSRM), had the largest number of appearances in a positive light, benefitting simultaneously from positive news articles about the work of the central public administration and the PSRM. Also, Igor Dodon had 21 appearances in a negative light as an electoral contender, being also disfavored by the negative tone of the coverage of the activities of the central public authority and the PSRM. The Shor Party’s candidate Violeta Ivanov was presented in a positive context for seven times, being simultaneously favored by the positive appearances of the party. PAS candidate Maia Sandu was disfavored by the negative tone of 18 articles about her work and the work of the PAS, IPN reports.
According to the monitoring report, the public TV channel Moldova 1 offered access to news items to all the electoral candidates who organized campaign activities, these being presented primarily neutrally. Igor Dodon had the largest number of appearances and mentions, being presented most of the times neutrally and two times positively. He was also favored in four news items about the work of the Government and the Chisinau City Hall.
Primul în Moldova, NTV Moldova and Accent TV most of the times used the same approaches, treating differently the electoral candidates. Igor Dodon was massively favored by these TV channels by the frequency of appearances and by the positive tone. Also, the TV channels broadcast overall 55 positive articles about the Government’s work that were favorable for Igor Dodon. PAS candidate Maia Sandu was more often mentioned than quoted on these TV channels, the tone being negative in 13 cases. The other candidates were mentioned sporadically.
Televiziunea Centrală offered access to its news articles primarily to the Shor Party’s candidate Violeta Ivanov, whose campaign activities were covered daily, being presented in a positive light, the candidate being also favored by the positive news about the party that fielded her. The other candidates, except for the Liberal Democratic Party’s candidate Tudor Deliu, were presented each in one news item about the presentation of their electoral programs, these being presented mainly neutrally.
Prime TV and Publika TV covered the campaign in news and debates, offering access to most of the electoral contenders, without evidently favoring or disfavoring an electoral contender or a political party. The candidates, parties and state institutions were principally covered neutrally. Independent candidate Igor Dodon, who is supported by the PSRM, was favored through the large number and themes of the appearances on both of the channels, while Violeta Ivanov who favored more by Prime TV.
Jurnal TV became actively involved in the coverage of the campaign, offering access to news items to all the candidates, without evidently favoring or disfavoring any of them. The channel treated equally the contenders in news items, informing about the meetings or electoral promises of all the candidates, the tone being mostly neutral. Igor Dodon had five appearances in a negative light (25%), especially in programs.
Pro TV Chisinau had a balanced behavior, without showing evident tendencies in favor or against an electoral contender. Igor Dodon appeared in a negative light for three times, being also disfavored by four articles where the central public administration and the PSRM appeared in a negative context.
TV8 allotted more airtime to news items and programs with direct and indirect electoral tangency. It informed about the electoral priorities of Andrei Năstase (PPDA), Violeta Ivanov (PP Shor) and Renato Usatyi (PN), the other candidates being presented in news items of another kind. In most of the cases, the candidates, parties and the central public authorities were presented in a neutral way. Igor Dodon had the largest number of appearances and mentions in a negative context (7 or 33%), especially in programs.
This is the third monitoring report for the November 1 presidential elections compiled by the Independent Journalism Center and the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.
