31. 05. 2004

Some media passive, others manipulative

BELGRADE, May 31, 2004 – Media in Serbia have come under criticism for biased reporting of presidential election campaigns. This has included favouring certain candidates or relying on campaign headquarters as sources of material. Some print media are manipulating facts in the interest of certain political groups, according to a report by the Belgrade Media Centre’s Media Council. In an analysis of the most influential media, conducted between May 24 and 30, the council found that electronic media were delivering accurate but dull and mechanical reports on the campaign, avoiding conflict with candidates and political groups. Members of the Media Council emphasised the fact that, because of the passive reporting of the campaign, candidates are getting away with untruths, half-truths and promises of things outside the jurisdiction of the president. Because journalists do not call these into question, candidates are succeeding in taking control of interviews. One exception to this, according to the council report, was an episode of TV B92’s program Javna tajna (Open Secret) which featured an interview with Radical candidate Tomislav Nikolic. Given B92’s critical attitude to the Radical Party, it remains to be seen whether similar discussions with other candidates will be presented, says the council. BK Television, whose owner Bogoljub Karic is himself a presidential candidate, had a balanced approach to the election during the week, although its presentations of Karic were of a higher technical standard than those of other candidates. The council described the print media’s treatment of the campaign as unequal, adding that some newspapers, such as Politika, carried analysis of the campaign while others were manipulating facts and working directly in the service of particular political groups.