Ro
En
Рy
According to the BC report, such channels as Primul in Moldova and NTV Moldova generally presented election participants neutrally and positively, except the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), which was mentioned in a negative context. TV8 reflected all the election participants neutrally and positively, except for the Electoral Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BECS), which was discussed with a slightly negative connotation. TV6 offered broadcasting space neutrally and negatively to all the candidates except the Sor Political Party (PPS), which was reflected positively. Jurnal TV mentioned the candidates neutrally, positively, or negatively, with the exception of “We Build Europe at Home” Party, which was reflected negatively. Pro TV Chisinau reflected them neutrally, except BECS, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), and PPS, which had negative and neutral connotations. BTV reflected the candidates in a balanced manner, but breached the legislation by broadcasting election-style news on the day of the elections. 10TV discussed the election participants mainly negatively, with the exception of AUR, which benefited from the neutral and positive context.
“Except for the TV channels Moldova 1, TVR Moldova, Prime, Canal 2, Canal 3, Publika TV, BTV, and RTR Moldova, and Radio Moldova radio station, the other monitored stations had cases of biased attitude or lack of impartiality in relation to some election participants, and were disadvantaged by a relatively large number of subjects discussed in a negative or positive tone,” Lidia Viziru, the BC member, concluded during the meeting held on July 15.
Ala Ursu-Antoci, President of the BC, affirmed she would not vote for sanctioning Pro TV Chisinau, Jurnal TV, and TV8 channels because, during the examination of the first BC monitoring report, some channels had not been sanctioned for similar breaches. She also insisted on punishing those who repeatedly breached the legislation. “I do not think this imbalance is serious enough to be sanctioned. If we compare them to the other media service providers, who did not learn the lesson after the first monitoring report, I would opt for a harsher sanction, the most severe one,” Ala Ursu-Antoci said.
Corneliu Mihalache mentioned that the balance should be respected first of all by public TV channels, and private channels should have a greater degree of freedom of expression. Larisa Manole, the BC member, specified that journalists played a decisive role in the content broadcast by the suppliers, as they could refuse to prepare certain materials they disagreed with.
After the examination of the monitoring report, the BC members sanctioned the TV6 channel with the fine of 10.000 lei for breaching the provisions of the broadcasting license. NTV Moldova and Primul in Moldova were fined 10.000 lei each. As to NTV Moldova, it was publicly warned because it had not presented the main points of view regarding two topics. BTV was fined 5.000 lei for the same breach. Publika TV was warned because it did not provide sign interpretation of the messages broadcast.
10TV channel had the greatest number of sanctions: its fines totaled 32.000 lei. These were two fines of 5.000 lei each, a fine of 10.000 lei, and another of 12.000 lei for several breaches, such as failing to inform about the previous sanction, repeated breach of the requirements on the correct coverage of events, lack of sign interpretation of messages, and breaching the provisions of the broadcasting license. The suggestions to sanction Pro TV Chisinau, Jurnal TV, and TV8 with fines of 5.000 lei each did not meet the required number of votes: two members voted for the sanction, and five were against it.
The first BC monitoring report resulted in sanctioning a single channel, i.e. 10TV. Several observers from the Republic of Moldova and abroad have criticized the BC’s activity during the election period, mentioning that it was inefficient and failed to apply sanctions quickly.
