Thus, the monitoring data show that the majority of TV channels failed to provide equal access to all election candidates registered in the campaign, and did not ensure the plurality of opinions or the balance of the sources. Thus, the national broadcasters Prime TV, Canal 2 and Publika TV, which announced they would not reflect the election campaign, continued to broadcast directly and indirectly various electoral materials in the newscasts. Most of them largely favoured the independent candidate – Silvia Radu, while others denigrated Andrei Nastase, the candidate of PPDA/PAS/PLDM.
We found that the gaps intensified at NTV Moldova and at Accent TV especially. These channels strongly supported Ion Ceban, the PSRM candidate and disadvantaged Andrei Nastase, the candidate of PPDA/PAS/PLDM and Constantin Codreanu, the candidate of PUN.
We also noted that Jurnal TV favoured Andrei Nastase, the candidate of PPDA/PAS/PLDM, and disadvantaged the independent candidate – Silvia Radu. At the same time, the channel was distinguished by the fact that it reflected in an impartial way, all the candidates who organised campaign events for the press.
RTR Moldova reflected the candidates in a relatively impartial way. We also noted that Reghina Apostolova, the candidate of Sor Party was slightly favoured, while Constantin Codreanu the candidate of PUN was easily disadvantaged.
The public television broadcaster Moldova 1, as well as Pro TV and TV 8 revealed a balanced behavior. They provided the majority of election candidates with access to news, and did not favour or disadvantage any candidate registered in the campaign for the new local elections.
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The monitoring of the media conducted by IJC aims to inform the public about the media behavior during the election campaign and the access of the election candidates to media. Also, it aims to notify the regulatory institutions about the trends that may affect media performance or compromise its ability to provide accurate, unbiased and pluralist information for the public.