“Media Azi” Broadcast, 22nd Edition: Can The BCC Ensure Correct Coverage of The Election Campaign?

The topic of the 22^nd edition of the “Media Azi” broadcast refers to the conclusions of the first reports on monitoring the media behavior during the current election campaign, which showed that a large part of the media, especially televisions, are biased and do not provide equal access to all candidates. In this context, Nadine Gogu, Executive Director of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), the host of the show, spoke with her guests, journalist Vitalie Calugareanu and member of the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) Olga Gututui, about how the media cover the election campaign and how the BCC ensures correct coverage of the campaign.

Participants in the broadcast tried to answer some questions that are of interest these days not only to the journalistic community, but also to media consumers, such as: Why some televisions, especially those with certain political protection, disregard professional ethics and remain biased, favoring or disfavoring certain candidates? Why the journalists of some channels act like electoral campaigning staff, accompanying a candidate and his party members in all locations? How credible are news stories and reports from such events, which they massively bombard us with?

The guests of the broadcast also referred to the impact of the media monitoring during the election campaign. Non-governmental organizations sent their monitoring reports not only to the media outlets concerned, but also to the BCC. What will further happen with these reports? To what extent will the BCC take into consideration the findings and suggestions of the civil society? The BCC conducted its own monitoring of broadcasters, but will this monitoring be able to influence the broadcasters’ behavior, since the BCC will launch its first report only on October 17? And, generally, does the broadcasting regulator have levers necessary to ensure correct coverage of the current election campaign?

You will also find out what participants in the broadcast think about the independence of this institution, the sanctions applied by the BCC, and, last but not least, how important it is for journalists to do their job honestly, during election campaigns and not only.