Some of the TV channels and web portals continue to present biased information to the public, promoting employers’ interests. The news articles are written with deviations from the deontological norms and the information is often provided selectively, with a mixture of facts and opinions and omitting particular details, says a new monitoring report compiled by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC). This is entitled “Elements of propaganda, information manipulation and violation of journalistic deontology norms in national media landscape”.
In a news conference at IPN, report author Victor Gotisan said 12 media outlets were monitored during October - December 2017. These included the TV channels Publika, Prime, Canal 2, Jurnal, Accent, RTR and NTV, and the websites ziarulnational.md, noi.md, gagauzinfo.md, sputnik.md and deschide.md. The monitored subjects were: stopping of EU financing for justice sector; appointment of Eugeniu Sturza as minister of defense; interview given by Vitalie Proca to Jurnal TV channel; Eastern Partnership Summit and opening of NATO Liaison Offence in Chisinau.
Most of the monitored media outlets ignored the deontological norms concerning news writing when they covered subjects of major interest. They broadcast incomplete information and presented facts unilaterally. The journalists intentionally ignored the right of reply of persons who were presented in news items in a negative light because it was suitable for the employer this way.
Accent TV and NTV Moldova, Publika, Prime and Canal 2 presented the information selectively and mingled opinions and facts. Victor Gotisan noted that Accent TV and NTV Moldova openly favored the Party of Socialists and President Igor Dodon. Publika, Prime and Canal 2 used labeling, favoring the Democratic Party. Jurnal TV also presented facts selectively, allowed omissions in its news bulletins and didn’t ensure the right of reply and balance. RTR Moldova presented selectively some of the facts, opinions and statements.
“Even if we are not in an election campaign, by the way in which the subjects are covered we see there are political preferences and partisanship. Partisanship is witnessed usually when it is about political subjects. It then becomes clears what agenda the TV channels support. Regrettably, this is not an agenda related to the public interest. It is related to the agenda of politicians,” stated IJC executive director Nadine Gogu.
The Independent Journalism Center recommends the Broadcasting Coordination Council to examine the situation and to monitor the TV channels that broadcast manipulating information so as to identify deviations and impose penalties. The media consumers are advised to inform themselves from several media sources so as to avoid receiving incorrect and manipulating information.
