Moldovan major TV channels biased in election campaign coverage
During the parliamentary election campaign, TV channels Moldova One, NIT and N4 favoured representatives of the government, parliament and the presidential administration in their news programmes. This was published in a report on performance of the Audio Visual Council, Moldovan media watchdog, in the first three months of 2009.
The report said that presenters of these channels interpreted some statements by the government, parliament and presidential administration's spokesmen to the benefit of the ruling Communist Party and to the detriment of other competitors.
According to the report, in the period from 24 February to 4 March the Audio Visual Council monitored the flagship news bulletins of Moldova One, N4, NIT, Euro-TV Chisinau, ProTV Chisinau, TV Channel One, TVC 21 and TV7 to assess their coverage of the election race.
The council said that news bulletins of all TV channels monitored violated provisions of the Broadcasting Code. Some reports were aired based on one source. This concerns, first and foremost, reports about conflict situations.
All the observed TV channels have received public warnings.
The report also said that the Audio Visual Council took part in 18 trials including court proceedings with ProTV-Chisinau, Sun Communications (Moldova's largest cable operator) and the real estate exchange Lara.
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