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Рy19 May 2015
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The first report on media monitoring during the electoral campaign for general local elections in Moldova has found that the majority of monitored media failed to ensure pluralism of opinion, promoting the political agenda and candidates of certain political entities.
The report, produced by the Independent Journalism Center, shows that between 1 and 14 May 2015, the majority of materials that covered controversial topics failed to ensure balance in the presentation of parties in conflict. Monitored media did not provide voter education and did not ensure balance in terms of gender equality, so that the absolute majority of sources of information were men.
As for media behavior, experts found that:
The report, produced by the Independent Journalism Center, shows that between 1 and 14 May 2015, the majority of materials that covered controversial topics failed to ensure balance in the presentation of parties in conflict. Monitored media did not provide voter education and did not ensure balance in terms of gender equality, so that the absolute majority of sources of information were men.
As for media behavior, experts found that:
- Moldova 1 and TV 7 televisions had a relatively balanced behavior, ensuring pluralism of opinion and diversity of sources. Judging by the frequency and context in which electoral contestants appeared in news, one may say that Moldova 1 slightly favored the Liberal Party and the Democratic Party of Moldova.
- Prime and Canal 2, televisions with national coverage, favored the Democratic Party of Moldova by a large number of materials, the positive context in which they appeared, and the manner of selection and presentation of news.
- Accent TV favored the Party of Socialists and Our Party both by positive news from electoral events and by image-promoting news with the presence of party leaders, Igor Dodon and Renato Usatii. At the same time, Accent TV disfavored the Liberal Party, presenting its representatives most often in a negative context.
- The editorial policy of omg.md has been focused on promoting the candidates of Our Party and the Party of Socialists and on discrediting the Liberal Party and candidate Dorin Chirtoaca, as well and the governing parties.
- Pan.md has been openly favoring the Party of Socialists and Our Party and disfavoring the Liberal Party’s candidate for Chisinau general mayor.
- Publika.md has been openly and covertly promoting Democratic Party candidates for mayor and councilors, providing sketchy information about the other contestants and emphasizing critical aspects about them.
- Timpul.md has been frequently criticizing the Party of Communists and the Party of Socialists and favoring the Liberal Party and its candidate for the capital’s mayor.
- Unimedia.info has been informing about electoral contestants mainly in a neutral context, without evident editorial preferences.
Report no. 1 on media monitoring during the electoral campaign for general local elections 2015 in Moldova (period 1 to 14 May 2015) can be accessed here
The goal of this project is to monitor and inform the public about mass media behavior during the electoral campaign, including electoral contestants’ access to mass media and provision of pluralism of opinions. The report is being produced as part of the Monitoring Mass Media During the Electoral Campaign project of the Independent Journalism Center with the support from East Europe Foundation from financial resources offered by the Swedish Government through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark/DANIDA. The contents are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East Europe Foundation, Swedish Government, Sida or Denmark MFA/DANIDA.
