​MEDIA WATCHDOG NOTES IMPROVEMENT IN TV COVERAGE OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN

The Audiovisual Coordinating Council (ACC) notes a considerable improvement in the situation with coverage of election campaign in Moldova in information outlets on 13 TV channels in Moldova.

The ACC Chairman Dinu Ciocan noted at the Friday meeting that in comparison to previous two monitoring reports of the media activity, the last report (November 9 to 15) shows a more balanced coverage of the election candidates.

“Of course, there still are some preference given to certain competitors by certain TV channels, but in general this is less obvious. We hope that the trend will maintain and in the last week before elections citizens will have access to the unbiased and reliable information”, noted he.

According to the report, 31.4% news time on TV was given to oppositional and extra-parliamentary parties, while to the ruling coalition parties – 28%.

ACC member Marian Pocaznoi noted that TV channels Moldova 1 and Pro TV Chisinau are covering the election campaign most impartially.

“RTR-Moldova and REN TV-Moldova are also promoting the position of parity access to the TV air for different participants of the election race. On the Prime, Canal 2, Canal 3 and Publica TV, where the Democratic Party of Moldova (DPM) was previously favored, the situation has changed. If according to the previous report, Publica TV in the news blocks was giving 47% of airtime to the DPM, then now this rate fell to 14%, which is comparable to the time this channel is covering the activity of the oppositional Moldovan Communist Party (MCP)”, said Pocaznoi, though noting that this broadcaster is evidently supportive to the DPM.

ACC members have concluded that Euro TV, N4 and TV7 are giving a slight preference to the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (LDPM).

According to the ACC, less favorable remains the situation on Jurnal TV and Accent TV channels. The first one keeps putting on television extremely negative materials about the DPM, while the Accent TV evidently favors the Patria party.

ACC member Nicolae Damaschin warned TV channels representatives that in case any violations are identified during the last week of election campaign, sanctions will be applied to the infringer channel – suspension of the right to place advertising for a certain period of time.