The journalists of particular media outlets continue to write news articles with deviations from the deontological norms. The contents include propaganda elements. The media outlets whose owners form part of or sympathize with political parties continue to transmit tendentious and manipulating content by news items, depending on the interests of the given parties. The conclusions are contained in the eighth and last monitoring report “Elements of propaganda, informational manipulation and violation of journalistic deontological norms in the national media” that was produced by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC).
The report that was presented in a news conference at IPN on October 18 covers the period between August 1 and October 1, during which there were analyzed the products of 12 media outlets. The main monitored subjects were: declaration of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin persona non-grata on Moldova’s territory, the dispute between the Government and the presidential administration over the military exercises in Ukraine, the anti-government protest mounted by the opposition on September 17 and the pro-President demonstrations staged by the Socialists on September 24.
Report author Viorica Zaharia said manipulation techniques were more seldom used in the monitored news articles in the period, even if a part of the journalists didn’t give up using these. “The journalists employ manipulation techniques especially when they cover political events, such as confrontations between the government and the opposition,” she stated.
Informational manipulation techniques were identified mainly at NTV Moldova and Accent TV, to a lesser extent at Publika TV, Prime TV, Canal 2 and Noi.md. Lack of balance in journalistic contents was ascertained at Accent TV, Prime TV, NTV Moldova, Canal 2, Jurnal TV and on the online portals Publika.md and Noi.md. The reaction of persons featured in conflict subjects on NTV Moldova, Accent TV and Prime TV was absent. The same channels quoted unknown experts and presented selectively facts and opinions. Also, the portal Publika.md and the channels Canal 2, NTV Moldova and Accent TV generated and omitted particular facts from news items.
The Independent Journalism Center recommends the Broadcasting Coordination Council to examine the situation and monitor the TV channels that broadcast manipulating information so as to identify deviations from the law and impose penalties. The press editors are recommended to supervise the editorial content so that this matches the duty of informing the public, not the wish of political circles to promote their interests and destroy the opponents. The reporters are urged to relate facts and to refrain from including own comments or comments that are eventually added by editors or other persons with senior posts in the editorial office in the news articles. The media consumers are asked to inform themselves from several media sources so as to avoid receiving erroneous information and being manipulated.
