PUBLIC ORGANIZATION REGISTERS VIOLATIONS IN CHISINAU ELECTION CAMPAIGN COVERING

Moldovan TV channels are covering the election campaign in Chisinau quite objectively, but still there are cases of public opinion manipulation, favoritism and false information, maintain experts of the WatchDog.md nongovernmental organization.

Expert Valeriu Pasa pointed at the Thursday's press conference that NGO experts analyzed 87 news programs on the channels Prime, Moldova 1, Jurnal TV, Pro TV, Publika, Canal 2, Canal 3, TV8, NTV and RTR within the period of May 11 through 14. According to results of the monitoring, Andrei Nastase of the "Demnitate si Adevar" [DA, "Dignity and Justice"] Party and Ion Ceban of the Party of Socialists (PSRM) appear on TV most often - 37 times each, independent candidate Silvia Radu (32) and Shor Party representative Reghina Apostolova (31). Liberal Valeriu Munteanu was mentioned 27 times, while candidate of the National Unity Party Constantin Codreanu - 29 times.

"Silvia Radu is leader in positive mentions (15 of 32 information), while Nastase - on contrary - in negative (12 of 37). However, it is worth noticing that 14 of 15 positive mentions about Radu appeared on four channels: Prime, Publika, Canal 2 and Canal 3; 10 of 12 negative mentions about Nastase also account for these TV channels, which are part of Vlad Plahotniuc's media holding", Pasa said.

According to him, these channels resort to public opinion manipulation, lifting of words out of context, often spread false information.

As an example he cited Valeriu Munteanu's press conference, in which he criticized election campaigns of Ion Ceban, Andrei Nastase and Silvia Radu.

"A special attention was given to Silvia Radu. Surprisingly, all the negative statements about Ceban and Radu were removed, leaving only the criticism against Nastase. In general, these four channels give great attention to the DA Party candidate, for example during the press conference of ex-president of Romania Traian Basescu, his entire speech was arranged in such a way that it seems that he has negative attitude only to Nastase", Pasa said.

As an example of appearance of false news on these TV channels, Pasa pointed at the covering of an opinion poll, the results of which were demonstrated in such a way that the audience to believe that only Silvia Radu has chances to beat Ion Ceban in the second round of elections.

Pasa also stressed that the NTV channel is using the method of favoritism: the information about Socialist candidate Ion Ceban have exclusively positive character.

"However, in general TV channels provide information about candidates quite objectively, especially this concerns Moldova 1, TV8, Jurnal TV and Pro TV", the expert concluded.