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MEDIA MONITORING IN BELARUS: “BELARUSIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE 2007 LOCAL ELECTIONS”

MEDIA EFFECTS

Introduction

Summary of findings

Main findings

Media effects

Post elections' coverage

Conclusions

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Appendix 4

In the course of the monitoring exercise, the monitoring team unveiled several stories, where some of the basic journalism standards were missing — so called media effects.

Such effects were mainly detected in the State-owned media. As a rule, the State-owned media have covered opposition candidates in a very negative way while giving hidden promotion to candidates supported by the local authorities. For example, some State-owned regional newspapers published large interviews with such candidates without recognizing their affiliation or status openly. Conversely, opposition candidates were mentioned sparingly and when mentioned, they were heavily criticized or slandered.

For example:

Mahilou Bulletin (#3—4, 6 January 2007) published an interview with Mrs. Raisa Lychkovskaya, the head of the Chief Administrative Department of the National Bank in the Mahileu region. The interview could be linked with the Professional Day of the Belarusian Bank Employees, which was held the next day (on 7 January 2007). However, in the middle of the interview, the interviewer asked a question : “Do you have an intention to contest the upcoming local elections to become an MP? — Mrs. Lychkovskaya's answer was: “Yes, I am a candidate…”

BT1 (Panorama, 18.01.07). “Craving for power and money led the opposition to an internal war between the central and regional opposition groups. Everything was in use from labels like “idiots” to drinking parties in the hotels organized during trips to Kyiv paid by sponsors”.

Main findings

Media effects

Post elections' coverage

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