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MEDIA MONITORING IN BELARUS: “PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2006 COVERAGE
IN THE BELARUSIAN MASS-MEDIA”

MEDIA SITUATION IN BELARUS

Introduction

Media situation in Belarus

Electronic data processing results

Propaganda in favor of just one candidate

Conclusions

Appendix 1

2.1. Media and Administration

In Belarus there exists a quite significant number of electronic and print media . The overwhelming majority of them, either directly or indirectly, are controlled by the State. They are controlled by means of administrative and financial mechanisms (subsidies from the State budget and senior managers' appointment by different State bodies) or with the aid of numerous leverages of limiting their activities and a quite simple procedure of license withdrawal as regards those media, which are not owned by the State. Moreover, the Ministry of information is endowed with the right to suspend media activities without applying to the court.

As a result, not only censorship, but also self-censorship is present in the country. And the last decade is actually the history of gradual disappearance of independent press in the country. In 1996 there was closed the only independent FM-station. Since that year the number of independent publications had decreased by several times.

At the end of the last year 19 independent newspapers were excluded from the subscription catalogues and deprived of an opportunity of distribution through the State owned monopolist distribution systems. As for today there are 20 independent publications only. Until recently 7 of them were printed in Russia. One week prior to the voting day a printing house in Russia unilaterally cancelled printing contracts with all of them. Before that happened, a weekly circulation of the independent press was around 300.000 copies or twice less than the print run of just one issue of the Presidential daily. Nowadays it is much less.

2.2. Monitored Media

The objects of monitoring were the most influential State owned electronic and print media as well as independent newspapers having the largest audiences. Among them were State owned media, which the Central Election Commission entrusted with a task of providing candidates free time and space. And finally, these were regional media outlets. As a result of the selection process 3 broadcast media (plus 2 regional TV programs) and 7 both State owned and independent newspapers were chosen. All electronic media were monitored at prime time.

Introduction

Media Monitoring in Belarus 2006

Electronic data processing results

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