During the last part of the election campaign, the two candidates for the position of President had a relatively equal number of appearances and mentions on TV. The vast majority of the materials in which they were discussed or appeared themselves were neutral in character. Also, the two had both positive and negative appearances. However, candidate of the Party of Socialists Alexandr Stoianoglo had more negative appearances, while the candidate of the Party of Action and Solidarity Maia Sandu had more positive appearances. They both participated in shows on different TV stations, but never together, shows the fifth report on media monitoring in the election campaign, produced by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) within the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.
In a news conference hosted by IPN, the secretary of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections Polina Panainte said that the fifth report covered the period between October 21 and November 1. IJC executive director Nadine Gogu said that a total of 696 materials were monitored, of which 625 were news items, 69 were programs and two were debates, with a total volume of 100 hours.
According to the monitoring report, the tone of the coverage in the news at Cinema 1 was in most cases neutral. In the shows, the tone for candidate Maia Sandu was more negative, and that for Alexandr Stoianoglo was more positive. The parties that designated the election contestants were mostly neutrally presented.
On Exclusiv TV, Sandu and Stoianoglo appeared mainly in a neutral light in the newscasts and in a positive or negative light in the shows. The PSRM and PAS had more appearances in a neutral light, and the tone in the case of the central public authorities was more neutral, but also positive.
Gagauziya Radio Television (GRT) had a rather neutral tone towards the candidates, but also negative for Maia Sandu, and positive for Alexandr Stoianoglo, especially in programs. The PAS was covered only negatively, and the central authorities – neutrally. "In conclusion, Maia Sandu was disadvantaged by the higher number of appearances in a negative context, but also by the negative tone of the coverage of the PAS. Alexandr Stoianoglo was advantaged by more appearances in a positive context," said Nadine Gogu.
At Jurnal TV, the tone of the coverage was in most cases neutral, and sometimes negative for Alexandr Stoianoglo and the PSRM and positive for Maia Sandu and the PAS, especially in the shows. The PAS had neutral appearances and mentions, and the PSRM was mentioned more in a negative context than in a neutral one, which disadvantaged the candidate nominated by this party.
On the public channel Moldova 1, the tone of the coverage was rather neutral towards both candidates. Maia Sandu was sometimes advantaged by positive appearances and mentions, but also by the relatively large number of materials that put the Government in a positive light. Alexandru Stoianoglo was disadvantaged by six appearances in a negative light.
In the news bulletins on N 4, no obvious favoring or disfavoring of the candidates was observed. Maia Sandu was advantaged in the news by appearances and mentions of the Government in a positive light, but she was disadvantaged in programs by the criticism leveled at her and the PAS, as well as at the executive.
Pro TV covered the campaign neutrally, without favoring or disfavoring any election contestant or the political parties that nominated the candidates for the position of President of the country.
On TV 8, both of the electon contestants were presented mainly neutrally, and sometimes negatively and positively, depending on the context of the topics. Stoianoglo was disadvantaged by four negative appearances. The tone of the coverage of the political parties PAS and PSRM, which nominated the candidates, as well as of the Government, was mostly neutral and sometimes negative.
On TVC 21, the two candidates were presented more neutrally, but they also had appearances that disadvantaged them and sometimes advantaged them as contenders. Maia Sandu was also disadvantaged by the appearances in a negative context of the PAS and the Government.
TVR Moldova favored Maia Sandu by the high frequency of appearances or positive mentions. Alexandr Stoianoglo was disadvantaged by the large number of materials that put him in a negative light. Through image transfer, Sandu was also advantaged by the positive tone of the materials centering on the executive's work. Stoianoglo was disadvantaged by the mentions or appearances in a negative context of the PSRM, the party that nominated him as a candidate.
Note: IPN Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider that they were targeted in the news articles produced based on the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.
