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1
CCOONNTTEENNTTSS
Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 Methodology and Terminology 5 General Information 6
Monitoring organizations 6 Monitoring structure 7 Monitoring periods 7
TV 8 RADIO 18 NEWSPAPERS 22
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• The factor that best characterizes the Albanian media is a division of loyalty between the two main political parties – the Socialist Party (SP) and the Democratic Party (DP).
• Public television and radio reports were strongly supportive of the Socialist Party
(SP) and the government. Public television and radio are financed directly by the taxpayer and have an important role to fulfill in providing the public with accurate, unbiased information. We recommend that they revise their reporting to provide a more balanced perspective to citizens.
• In the private media there was evidence that one group of outlets is prone to
support the SP or the government, while another group supported the DP, though in a less visible manner and on a smaller scale. Private media also have a duty to serve the public interest and follow well-established and accepted standards of journalism; they too must pay special attention to balanced reporting during the election period.
• The government’s activities received a high proportion of coverage in all
broadcast media monitored during this time period.
• Newspapers devoted more space to reporting on political party electioneering than on government activities. More newspapers supported the DP; only one was sympathetic to the SP.
• Top Channel and Egnatia TV reported in a broadly balanced manner.
• Smaller political parties did not receive enough space or time to express their
opinion. This affected Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) the most; the party received minimal coverage in TVSH, TVA and TV KOHA.
• Women political leaders received almost no media coverage compared to their
male counterparts. This project was made possible through support provided by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs through the Democracy and Governance in Albania project which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. 182-A-00-04-00104-00. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID.
3
INTRODUCTION While it is impossible to have democracy in a country without genuine elections, the democratic process extends well beyond Election Day. Democratic governance requires an active and informed citizenry. The media is often referred to as the Fourth Estate, indicating its important role in society. In a democracy, we look to the press to act as a watchdog of events and decisions, to help citizens stay informed about what is going on. But this role can only be fulfilled in media coverage follows key principles and practices. Media monitoring is a tool that can help journalists report in a more accurate, precise, and balanced way. Media monitoring is a tool that promotes trust of citizens in media reporting. Wherever the media exists, it is useful to follow their work and then to analyze the media’s relationship with different subjects. Media monitoring is a research discipline that includes analytical elements. Its aim is to help media in creating balance while reporting and to reflect professional mistakes. During the observation period the assignment of monitoring team is to gain data that reflect the real feelings of citizen who watch, listen or read targeted media. Media monitoring is common throughout democracies both large and small. The Association of Young Journalists (AYJ) in Montenegro monitors domestic media on a regular basis; the findings from the monitoring efforts have influenced significantly media attitudes since the project began in 2000. Quality monitoring must be based on sound scientific methodology such as the one used for the current ACAC effort. Principles of good journalism There are key principles that are widely accepted as to what constitutes “good journalism.” Among them are:
• Respect good journalistic ethics • Balance reporting in terms of time/space, and context of information • Differentiated between government and ruling party officials • Avoid using Government as promotional tool for candidates and policy
alternatives • Avoid allocating excessive time to government activities to the exclusion of other
political actors • Provide access to alternative sides to respond to criticism or attacks • Guide politicians to respond to what is important for citizens • Never promote hate speech • Behave as a public watchdog
Biased and unprofessional reporting will not influence decided voters. It can potentially influence undecided voters because poor reporting distorts perception and that distortion of truth is all that citizens have on which to base decisions. Rather than imposing decisions on citizens, the media’s role is to inform citizens about relevant events so that they can make an informed choice. This reporting should be balanced,
4
precise, correct and fair. It should offer equal opportunities for all parties to express opinions and ideas. Government has an important role not to impede the media in fulfilling these functions and in facilitating media pluralism in order to expose the public to the widest variety of sources of information. METHODOLOGY AND TERMINOLOGY Media monitoring uses two sets of criteria—qualitative and quantitative. Both sets of criteria are highly relevant to present a comprehensive picture of media reporting in an election campaign.
Qualitative Analysis In qualitative research the main elements are context and presentation. Context is the timing and setting of the information itself. For example, if political party A speaks in a positive context about itself or in a negative context about some other subject, a medium is not partial just because it broadcasts the information. What matters is whether a medium broadcasts information with positive or negative context on confronted subjects in a selective manner over a period of time so that a distinct pattern develops. Presentation is the extent to which events are reported factually (X happened) versus the amount of editorial comment or influence on those events.1 For example, words can be positive or negative. The tone of a journalist during news coverage can also influence perception. Finally, facial expression and body language (for television journalists) influences the way information is perceived. Quantitative Analysis Quantitative analysis assesses the time or space in which a political party or politician is mentioned, spoken of, quoted, or appears in a particular medium. Total Time/Space: the amount of time that broadcast media (television and radio) devote to reporting on a certain political subject, or print media (newspapers and journals) devote to political parties or Government activity. Quotation is the time or space given to a journalist to retell someone else’s words. Sound bite (or printed remark for print media): the amount of time or space that media give political parties for expressing their own political opinions and represents part of the
1 You will not find in every graph-cited analysis about this type of reporting. If there are not major problems in this area we shall not present them.
5
total time. This category covers interviews and announcements directly from political parties or political subjects. Object Time: time when subject X is speaking about politician Y, so that politician Y is the “object” of the content. This covers cases in which journalists mention political subjects in their articles or when others talk about political subjects. Source: where media get information, such as news agencies, other media, as well as various press statements, reports and other announcements. GENERAL INFORMATION
Monitoring organizations The ACAC media monitoring is being conducted by four organizations: Albanian Coalition Against Corruption (ACAC) ACAC was created in 2001 to reduce corruption by strengthening the role of civil society and working in coordination with government. Its aims are to increase the awareness of the causes and costs of corruption and to transform that awareness into advocacy for reforms to reduce and combat corruption. Institute for Polls and Opinions (ISO) Founded in 2000, the Institute for Polls and Opinions is an independent survey research center that provides services to private and public sector organizations. ISO periodically measures electronic media rating and legibility of print media in Albania. Beside the permanent staff, ISO employs other 25 external experts and has a panel of 4000 people across 36 districts. Institute for Development Research and Alternatives (IDRA) IDRA Research is the social and marketing research survey unit of Institute for Development Research and Alternatives (IDRA). It offers research for institutional and private clients. They have a network of more than 150 interviewers covering all the regions of Albania and Kosovo. Center for Transparency and Free Information (CTFI) The Center’s aim is to increase public awareness for the need for a continuous democratization of Albanian life as well as the enforcement of national policies in the fight against corruption. Some of the projects conducted by the Center include: 2003 May-December: “Media for Transparency”.
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Monitoring Structure The overall project is being conducted under the umbrella of the ACAC. The project is headed by a Steering Commitee composed of all four organizations which first defined the precise list of media to be monitored in this project. Media were chosen according to the findings of a short research on the media influence in Albania. There are 23 monitors involved in the project, apart from three coordinators, one main coordinator and other staff - technicians, finance and IT managers. The staff was selected carefully and screened for any potential political bias. Monitors rotate regularly within each of the three groups (television, radio, and newspapers), in order to get as diverse opinions as possible. Television - conducted by ISO. TVSH, Top Channel, Klan, Koha, TVA, Vizion +, News 24, Alsat, Teuta, Egnatia Radio - conducted by IDRA. Radio Tirana, Top Albania Radio, Radio RASH, Radio +2 Newspaper - conducted by CTFI. Shekulli, Panorama, Koha Jone, Gazeta Shqiptare, Ballkan, Korrieri The following report is based on media monitoring just prior to the formal election period that started on May 30. The media monitoring began on Friday, 13 May. As such, it is an assessment that provides a review of media behavior in the grey area between laws that control media coverage during an election and the sensibilities of readers, listeners and viewers in the heated moments before the formal campaigns begin.
7
TELEVISION
ALSAT Although this station reported mainly about the Government, its coverage gave a boost to the DP because Alsat covered this party with more positive hits, and the SP in more negative context. The SMI and the NDP also received a visible amount of time in a mainly positive light. On sound bites, Nano got most of time to sound bites. Berisha, Meta, Pollo were mostly presented in a positive light.
A
Total time Context
LSI9%
PR1%
PDK2%
Te tjerat2%
Qeveria 29%
OPOZITA4%LZHK
4%PBDNJ
5%
PDR7%
PS14%
PD24%
ALSAT
10
37
2 2
56
2
48
23
1014
16
4 3
54
3
21
3
31
59
6 5
11
3
9
57
14
7
39
2
46
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA
PAD
PBDNJ
PBKPBL PD
PDKPDR PR PS
PSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
A
Politician sound bite Politician context
902
ALSAT 21
6
11
3
6
3
28
10
3
11
5
16
8
6
2 2
18
4
1 12
20
6
ALFRED MO
ISIU
ARBEN M
ALAJ
DASH
AMIR
SHEH
I
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
IGLI T
OSK
A
ILIR
META
NAM
IK D
OKLE
SALI B
ERISH
A
VANG
JEL D
ULE
- + 0
129142152161174210
265
347
740
FATOS NA
LI BERISHA
ILIR M
ETA
GENC POLLO
ARBEN MALAJ
IGLI T
OSKA
VANGJEL D
ULE
ALFRED MOISIU
DASHAMIR SHEHI
NAMIK D
OKLENO
SA
8
KLAN This station showed nearly balanced total time to the SP/Government (40%) and the DP (33%). In context, this channel is more positive to the DP (106 positive and 41 negative) than the SP (99 positive and 74 negative). The same situation is for political leaders: Sali Berisha has more time and in a positive context than Fatos Nano, who received twice as much negative coverage compared to Berisha. The DP received 7% more time than the SP with a similar positive and neutral context rating, but with much higher number of negative information about the SP.
A
Total time Context
A
KLAN
PD33%
PD LZHR2%PR
2%
K2%
PDK2%
PDS2%OPOZITA
3%PBDNJ
LSI8%
Qeveria 14%
Te tjera3%
PS26
103 3 5 2 1
41
74
40
23
9 114
102
106
72
169
99
10
5566
17
3
26
18 10
3
138
15 13 9 11
138
6
38
LSI
LZHK
OMON
IA
OPOZITA PA
PAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBL PDPDK
PDRPDS
PR PSPSD
Qever
ia
- + 0
3%
%
Politician sound bite Politician context
2193
KLAN
31
28
4
12
3
11
3
8
45
18
8
14
43
6
11
75
10
19
47 6
40
2
ALFRED MOIS
IU
ANASTAS A
NGJE
LI
ANDIS
HARASA
NI
FATMIR
MEDIU
FATOS N
ANO
ILIR
META
NIK
OLLË L
ESI
PASKAL M
ILO
SALI B
ERISH
A
VANGJE
L DULE
323338349375423441507
864
1833
SALI BERIS
FATOS NANO
ILIR M
ETA
ALF
MOISIU
ANASTAS ANGJE
LI
PASKAL MILO
NIKOLLË LESI
FATMIR M
EDIU
ANDIS HARASANI
VANGJEL D
ULEHA
RED
- + 0
9
NEWS 24 This station broadcast a balanced amount of time between the two main political parties. The context of this information was even as well. However, the time given to Government was 21% and this information was predominantly positive. News 24 covered the SP/Government 45 % of the time, with the DP receiving 25% of coverage. Although main political parties had a roughly equal representation of sound bites, the Government secured relatively more time for direct quotes. Nano and Berisha are the most represented among political leaders in terms of coverage time. Nano has a slight advantage regarding given time, and that time was generally more positive in terms of context. None of the smaller parties received meaningful amounts of coverage.
A
Total time Context
PS24%
2%
K2%
OZITA1%
PBDNJ3%
LZHK5% PDR
7%
LSI7%
tjera2%
PD25%
Qeveria 21%
PR PD OP Te
NEWS 24
12
510
2 3
49
1 2 1
43
1
2721
18
48
1
68
5
30
16
69
5
67
22
12
1
95 5 6 5
2 4
78
15
31
3
12
92
6
46
LSI
LZHK
OMON
IA
OPOZITA PA
PAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBKDPBL PD
PDKPDR
PDSPR PS
PSD
Qever
ia
- + 0
A
Politician sound bite Politician context
NEWS 24
154195251
352375381472
17741880
2
24
4
27
1 2
9
48
41
20
4
12
36
14
2 1 2 1
29
12
35
21
9
2
ARBEN M
ALAJ
BESNIK
DERVIS
HI
DASHAM
IR SH
EHI
EDI RAM
A
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
IGLI T
OSK
A
ILIR
META
SALI B
ERISH
A
SERVET P
ËLLUMBI
VANGJE
L DULE
624
FATOS NA
LI BERISHA
GENC POLLO
ILIR M
ETA
IGLI T
OSKA
EDI RAMA
ARBEN MALAJ
SERVET PËLLUMBI
VANGJEL D
ULE
DASHAMIR SHEHI
NO
SA
- + 0
10
TOP CHANNEL This station tends to cover both major parties equally (26%). The station broadcasts Government activities (20%) in a positive light. In terms of context, the SP has a slight advantage with 91 favorable hits compared with 29 negative mentions. For the DP, the comparison is 72 positive to 43 negative. SMI received 6 % with 34 positive and 11 negative hits. A
Total time Context
A
TOP CH
LZHK4%LSI6%
PDS3%
R4%
PSD4%
OPOZITA2%
PAD2%
Te tjera3%
PS26%
Qeveria 20%
PD26%
113
10
43
59
48
34
18
5 5 84
72
3
29 31
6
91
16
62
2921
29
15 5 3 3
65
2
12 13
4
49
10
43
LSI
LZHK
OM
ON
IA
OPO
ZITA PA
PAD
PBDNJ
PBKPBL PD
PDKPDR
PDSPR PS
PSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
PD
Politician sound bite Politician context
1526
TOP CH
251276287309324350384
544
1374
FATOS N
LI BERISHA
GENC POLLO
ILIR M
ETA
ARBEN MALA
J
PASKAL MILO
SERVET PËLL
UMBI
IGLI T
OSKA
DASHAMIR SHEHI
YLLI P
ANGO
26
5
16
9
3
18
9
33
23
1
12
18
31
36
12
47
4 4
15
9
5
ARBEN M
ALAJ
DASHAM
IR SH
EHI
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
IGLI T
OSK
A
ILIR
META
PASKAL M
ILO
SALI B
ERISH
A
SERVET P
ËLLUMBI
YLLI PAN
GO
- + 0
ANO
SA
11
TVSH As the publicly funded television station in Albania, TVSH has an obligation to report in a balanced manner. Based on monitoring to date, this station failed to fulfill this role. Our findings suggest that this station is quite supportive of the SP by providing it with a large amount of positive airtime (33%) in addition to the 31% of airtime that the Government secured. The DP received 15% of airtime, with more than half of that in a negative context. This analysis shows that the country’s single public service television station provided 64% of its political programming to the governing political party in a predominantly positive manner. Similar scenarios play out in the appearances of politicians and their sound bites, where Nano has a three-fold advantage over Berisha. In addition, TVSH gives 4 times more sound bites to Fatos Nano than Berisha. A
Total time Context
PS33%
PD15%
3% 1%K
3%
PDS3%PSD
3%
PDR
jera3%
Qeveria 31%
PA LSILZH T e t
TVSH
165
16
1 1
48
1 1
22
1
2316
515
6 7
42
6
23 22
7
163
20
129
10
23
19
2110
38 9
107
3
42
2112
122
33
52
LSI
LZHK
OM
ON
IA
OPO
ZITA PA
PAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBL PDPDK
PDRPDS PR PS
PSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
4%
A
Politician sound bite Politician context
TVSH
351359389462510658663
13551508
6128
2
6
32
12
5
21
47
13
6
14
20
14
8
13
7 8
27
17
3
911
28
5
ALFRED MO
ISIU
ANAST
AS AN
GJELI
ARBEN M
ALAJ
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
IGLI T
OSK
A
NAM
IK D
OKLE
PASKAL M
ILO
SALI B
ERISH
A
SERVET P
ËLLUMBI
- + 0
FATOS NO
SALI BERISHA
ARBEN MALAJ
PASKAL MILO
ALFRED MOISIU
IGLI T
OSKA
NAMIK D
OKLE
GENC POLLO
ANASTAS ANGJE
LI
SERVET PËLLUMBIAN
12
EGNATIA Egnatia TV is one of those rare TV stations that do not report significantly on Government activities, devoting to it only 6% of time, which was mostly balanced. Most of the reporting was for the DP and the SP and this was done in a fairly balanced manner. This station is also devoting significantly negative number of information about the Nano. Nano receives a negative score of 18 and a positive score of only 3 whereas Berisha received 15 negative and 13 positive scores. A
Total time Context
A
PD32%
LZHK8%
Qeveria 8%
2%D
2%DNJ
1% tjera1%PDR
4%LSI5%
PDK
PS31%
PAPA PBTe
EGNATIA
2 4
26
61
6
23
59
53 3 3
52
69
3
60
810 11
25
1
20
25
30
2
10
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA PA
PAD
PBDNJ
PBL PDPD
KPD
RPD
S PR PSPSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
6%
Politician sound bite Politician context
1571
EGNATIA
32
18
15
2 23
76
7 7
13
9
4 45
2
8
21
2
10
ALFRED MOIS
IU
ANDIS
HARASA
NI
DASHAM
IR SH
EHI
FATOS N
ANO
GRAMO
Z RUCI
ILIR
META
LULEZIM
BASH
A
NAM
IK D
OKLE
NIK
OLLË L
ESI
SALI B
ERISH
A
- + 0
430510538543
608677
866930
SALI BER
A
RED MOISIU
NIKOLL
Ë LESI
LULEZIM B
ASHA
ANDIS HARASANI
DASHAMIR SHEHI
NAMIK D
OKLE
ILIR M
ETA
FATOS NANO
GRAMOZ RUCI
3
ISH
ALF
13
KOHA
This station is biased towards the SP and the Government as most of the time was dedicated to both in a highly positive manner. While the number of hits for the DP in a negative context was equal to SP/Government, the amount of positive information for the DP was half that of the SP. Nano received twice as much time for sound bites and was mentioned four times more positively than negatively. What was noticeable was the scant coverage given to the smaller political parties. A
Total time Context
A
KOHA
PD23%
1%PSD1%
LSI2%
NJ1%
PDR4%
OPOZITAjera
2%
Qeveria 35%
PS29%
PAPBTe t
D
93 6 3 1
24
1
21
1
28
4 3 37 4 2
6 5
63
1
25
4
110
8
114
8 8 5 3 2 3 3 3 3
56
13
76
14
71
LSI
LZHK
OMON
IA
OPOZITA PA
PAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBKDPBL PD
PDKPDR PR PS
PSD
Qever
ia
- + 0
2%
Politician sound bite Politician context
1110
11
8
3
18
42
20
4
30
13
15
6
3
24
1
6
19
6
AGRON D
UKA
ALFRED M
OIS
IU
ARBEN M
ALAJ
BEN B
LUSHI
EDI R
AMA
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
GRAMO
Z RUCI
SALI B
ERISH
A
SERVET P
ËLLUM
BI
- + 0 KOHA
129149169201247320372
571
1132
2252
FATOS NANO
SALI BERISHA
EDI RAMA
GENC POLLO
AGRON DUKA
ARBEN MALA
J
ALFRED M
OISIU
GRAMOZ RUCI
SERVET PËLL
UMBI
BEN BLUSHI
14
TEUTA There was little consistency in preference in Teuta coverage, as there were days when it covered only DP activities, and other days that it concentrated on SP activities. In general, this station appears supportive of the DP. For example, Berisha received more positive coverage (26 positive hits versus to 4 negative) compared to coverage of Nano (15 positive hits versus 9 negative). Regarding parties generally, the DP received 8% less time than the SP/Government combined. A
Total time Context
A
TEUTA
PD35%
Qev eria 18%
PDR2%
PBDNJ2%
Te tjera1%
PDS2%
LZHK5%
LSI8%
PS25%
10
17
28
3
32
811
5 3 3 2
67
2 3 3 3
63
32
15
41 2 3
6
50
26
1
2522
LSI
LZHK
OMON
IA
OPOZITA
PAD
PBDN
JPBL PD
PDKPDR
PDSPR PS
PSD
Qever
ia
- + 0
Politician sound bite Politician context
1552
TEUTA
146148153180288
371502
814930
3
9
43 3
15 14
7 7
3
26
35 4
1
53
11
3
ALFRED MO
ISIU
AND
IS H
ARASAN
I
BAMIR
TO
PI
FATOS N
ANO
GAZMIR
BIZ
HGA
GJERGJ K
OJA
ILIR
META
PASKAL M
ILO
SALI B
ERISH
A
VANGJE
L DU
LE
- + 0
SALI BERIS
A
ATOS NANO
ANDIS HARASANI
GAZMIR B
IZHGA
ILIR M
ETA
GJERGJ K
OJA
PASKAL MILO
BAMIR TOPI
ALFRED MOISIU
VANGJEL D
ULEH
F
15
TVA
Our findings show that this station is strongly pro SP/Government through often unbalanced reporting. The DP received 21% of political program time in the main news slots, while the SP/Government got 61% and, in terms of context, those subjects were presented three times as favorable to the SP than to the DP. For us, this represents clear support for the SP. Regarding politicians themselves, the situation is also similar. In the main news, Nano received more than three times more airtime to express his views than did Berisha. The station also showed a disproportion amount of information on Nano that got 38 times more positive information than negative. In this sense, it hard to speak about balanced reporting at TVA.
A
Total time Context
A
TVA
PD21%
2%D
2%
LSI2%
K2%
Te tjera3%
Qeveria 34%
PS27%
PDS PALZH
13 14
26
81
24
7 5 5 4 6 6 6
45
28
17
53
8
74
9 95 5 6 3 1 4
87
1
20
11
99
3
51
LSI
LZHK
OPOZIT
A PAPAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBKDPBL PD
PDK
PDR
PDSPR PS
PSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
PDR5%
Politician sound bite Politician context
1
11
7 6
38
16
2
14
20
23
11
14
9
4
1
20
3
ALFRED MO
ISIU
ARBEN M
ALAJ
EDI RAM
A
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
LULEZIM B
ASHA
PASKAL M
ILO
SALI B
ERISH
A
SERVET P
ËLLUMBI
YLLI PAN
GO
- + 03420
TVA
5458126138239307378391
1156
FATOS
SALI BERISHA
GENC POLLO
ARBEN MALAJ
ALFRED M
OISIU
PASKAL MILO
YLLI PANGO
EDI RAMA
SERVET PËLLUMBI
LULEZIM B
ASHA
NANO
16
VIZION +
Vizion+ dedicated most of the time to discussions about Government, this reporting was balanced with almost the same amount of positive and negative information. In this TV station there is balanced reporting about the SP/Government, in terms of context, but there is a big difference of total time for SP/Government (53%) towards the DP (25%), whereas the reporting about the DP was more positive. In addition, leading DP members received more time for sound bites. Reporting about the SP was balanced contextually, whereas the reporting about the DP was more positive. The context rating for Berisha was more positive than negative, and for Nano it was mainly balanced.
A
Total time Context
A
VIZION+
Qeveria 31%
PS22%
PR2%
PDK1%
LSI3%
PDS
LZHK3%
1% tjera3%
PDR6%
PD25%
PSD Te
71
4
27
2 2 2
42
1
47
104 2 2
61
44
12
37
41
1
49
14
37
37
2 4 4
88
8
26
7 8
87
10
58
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA PA
PAD
PBDN
JPBL PD
PDK
PDR
PDS
PR PSPSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
2%
Politician sound bite Politician context 1182
VIZION+ 20
9
1 1
9
22
10
3
18
3
108
3
27
11
5
7
26
35
ALFRED MO
ISIU
ARBEN M
ALAJ
EDI RAM
A
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
LULEZIM B
ASHA
PASKAL M
ILO
SALI B
ERISH
A
SERVET P
ËLLUMBI
YLLI PAN
GO
- + 0
161171188245256258
357
557
1080
SALI
ISHA
FATOS NANO
GENC POLLO
EDI RAMA
ARBEN MALA
J
PASKAL MILO
LULEZIM B
ASHA
YLLI P
ANGO
ALFRED M
OISIU
SERVET PËLL
UMBI
BER
17
RADIO
RADIO TIRANA2
Radio Tirana stands out because it has devoted a large amount of time to the information covering the SP/Government. The coverage of the SP and the DP is balanced (18% and 19% respectively), but this is misleading because of the time reserved for the Government. Combined SP/Government took 66% (SP 18%; Government 48%) of the time compared with 27% of the DP and its allies. While the positive information for the SP and the DP is about the same of the overall information given for these parties (64% and 65% respectively), 78% of the information given for Government is given in a positive light. Radio Tirana gives Nano 2.5 times more sound bites as that given to Berisha. In fact, the majority of sound bites are given to Nano as Prime Minister but this does not make any difference from the point of view of the listener. A
Total time Context
2 Other Parties - Refers to the time of all other parties, which has been less than 2% of total time.
RADIO TIRANA
Qeveria 47%
PS19%
PDR5%
LZHK3%
PAD1%
PDK1%
Te tjera3%
PD20%
2 1
1015
2 1
13
1
16
15 5
1 2 3 3
57
2
114
55
119
2 3 1 3
24
3
14
2
17
LSI
LZHK
OPOZIT
APAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBL PDPD
KPDR PR PS
PSD
Qever
ia
- + 0
Politician soundbite Politician context
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
FATOS NANO
SALI BERIS
HA
GENC POLLO
VANGJEL D
ULE
DASHAMIR SHEH
Negative Pozitive Neutral
1836
717
136 82 81 60 30 21 11
FAT
NO
SAL
SHA
NERIT C
EKA
VAN
ULE
EQEREM SPAHIU
NIKOLL
Ë LESI
SHAMIR SHEHI
GENC POLLO
ILIR M
ETA
OS NA
I BERI
ANGJE
L D
DA
I
EQEREM SPAHIU
ILIR M
ETA
LEKA ZOGU
NERITAN CEKA
RADIO TIRANA
18
TOP ALBANIA RADIO This station devoted 36% of its time to the Government, 23% to the DP and 18% to the SP. The commentary on Government is balanced (44% positive and 35% negative hits). Information on the DP is more positive (58% positive hits; 19% negative). On average both main political parties score positively in context across the board. Nano received about 25% more sound bites than Berisha. There seems to be a balance in the positive hits that Nano and Berisha have received in the context but there were more negative hits on Nano than for Berisha. A
Total time Context
RADIO TOPALBANIA
Qeveria 36%
PS18%
PDR5%
LZHK6%
LSI4%
OPOZITA3%
Te tjera5%
PD23%
3 2 2
17
1 1
23
1
32
9
15
11
2 1
51
2
13
25
28
1
41
46
41 1 1 1
20
1 1
14
1
18
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA
PAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBL PDPDK
PDRPDS
PR PSPSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
Politician sound bite Politician context
RADIO TOPALBANIA 12
3
5
7
2
4
22
9
6
21
2
19
1
4
1 1 12
DASHAM
IR SH
EHI
EDI R
AMA
EQEREM
SPAH
IU
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
ILIR
META
NERIT
AN C
EKA
NIK
OLLË L
ESI
PASKAL M
ILO
SALI B
ERISH
A
- + 0
3339578098144
189245
532
833
FATOS N
ANO
SALI BERISHA
GENC POLLO
ILIR M
ETA
DASHAMIR SHEHI
EQEREM SPAHIU
EDI RAMA
NERITAN CEKA
NIKOLLË LESI
MILO
PASKAL
19
RADIO RASH
Radio Rash has kept a balance in the amount of time allocated for main political parties (22% each). And has reserved more time to the SMI (8%). However, even this station has been unable to “escape” the trap of the Government presence in the media as the amount allocated to government is significant (28%). If their scores are combined, this station has given about half of the time to Government and the SP, while the DP has 24% of the time. Concerning the context, the picture is the same for the main political parties looking mostly positive. However, the sum of “positivity” of Government and SP gives them overall a better standing. Again, the fact that government is also greatly present can be explained by the “passivity” of radio station staff that may fill their programs with press releases from government press offices. Interestingly enough, Radio Rash has not had any Sound Bites during this period of monitoring. So the microphone has not been in “the field” to get politicians to talk directly to this station. A
Total time Context
Qeveria 28%
LSI8%
LZHK7%
PBDNJ4%PDR
4%
OZITA1%
tjera2%
PD22%
PS23%
OP Te
RADIO RASH
42
1 1
16 15
12
9
12
2
6
37
2 31
31
4
35
5 5
2 21 1
22
6 6
1
24
6
10
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA
PBDN
JPBK
PBL PDPD
KPD
RPLL PR PS
PSD
Qever
ia
- + 0
RADIO +2
Politician sound bite Politician context
RADIO RASH
816343548
75
314
LI BERIS
HA
FATOS NANO
ILIR M
ETA
VANGJEL DULE
EDI RAMA
EQEREM SPAHIU
DASHAMIR S
HEHI
NIKOLLË
LESI
SKËNDER GJIN
USHI
9
7
1
4
23
10
5
19
44
2
6 6
21
DASHAM
IR SH
EHI
EDI R
AMA
EQEREM
SPAHIU
FATOS N
ANO
ILIR
META
NIK
OLLË L
ESI
SALI B
ERISH
A
SKËN
DER GJIN
USHI
VANGJE
L DULE
- + 0
77
182
SA
20
The Government received about 40% of the total airtime, the DP about 23%, the SP 15% and the SMI 5%. Combined SP/Government and SP coverage (including their ally SDP) was 55% of the total time, while the DP received about 23% of total time. Regarding the context, there is pretty much a balanced view with two parties “scoring” more positively, but also the Government received twice as many positive hits as negative ones. Radio +2 has had no sound bites during this period. There is a broad balance regarding quotations between Nano and Berisha. A
Total time Context
RADIO +2
Qeveria 40%
PDR4%
3%
tjera
LSI5%
PS14%
PD25%
PRPDS3%
LZHK2%
Te3%
52 1 1
1013
23
9
2 2 2 1
39
11
4 4
19
43
1 1
13
1 1
5
13
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA
PBDN
JPBK
PBL PDPDK
PDRPDS
PR PS
Qev
eria
- + 0
Politician sound bite Politician context
RADIO +2
7
4558
289
FATOS NANO
SALI BERISHA
GENC POLLO
ILIR M
ETA
NIKOLLË LESI
9
2
3
11
5
4
11
4
1
6
FATOS N
ANO
GENC P
OLLO
ILIR
META
NIK
OLLË L
ESI
SALI B
ERISH
A
- + 0
195
21
NEWSPAPERS
BALLKAN This newspaper has given a more positive light to the SP, despite a balanced allocation of space between the two main parties – SP (43 %) and DP (40%). The most represented politicians are Nano and Berisha who share very similar coverage in terms of space. Meta secured 18% of coverage. Other party leaders like Gjinushi and Dule get more coverage than in the other newspapers. Context coverage favored the SP (2 to one) over the DP, but Meta had very favorable context with 7 positive and 2 negative hits. Context coverage for the DP is almost balanced. Nano is mainly placed in a positive context and Berisha in a negative one. Gjinushi, Meta, Dule, are placed either in a mainly positive or totally positive context. A
Total time Context
A
BALLKAN
PS43%
PSD5%
PBDNJ4%
K2%
jera0%
LSI6%
PD40%
LZH Te t
7
14
21
13
8
14
30
43
6
12 1
710
LSI
LZHK
OPOZIT
A
PBDN
JPD PS
PSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
Politician sound bite Politician context
BALLKAN
3
2
8
6
2
7
5 5
4
1 1
2
1
FATOS N
ANO
GRAMO
Z RU
CI
ILIR
META
SALI B
ERISH
A
SKËN
DER GJI
NUSH
I
VANGJE
L DULE
- + 0
38
505576
657
861
1050
FAS N
ANO
SALI BERISHA
ILIR M
ETA
SKËNDER GJIN
USHI
VANGJEL D
ULE
GRAMOZ RUCI
TO
22
KORRIERI This newspaper is mildly supportive of the DP and the SMI. Both the SP and the DP occupy similar space (28% and 27%, respectively) with the Government occupying only 3 %. The balance is distorted when it comes to the context, where the DP has more negative than positive (19 negative; 14 positive) and the SP the reverse (26 positive; 20 negative). The SMI is the third party with 16% to be followed by the MND and both these parties are placed in a mainly positive context. The picture changes when monitoring political leaders. Meta is very close to Nano and Berisha as far as the coverage space is concerned. Nano is placed in a more negative context compared to Berisha, whereas the positive context for both is almost the same. Meta secures 24% of coverage of politicians, in a highly positive context (5 positive hits and one negative mention). A
Total time Context
A
KORIERI
PD33%
LSI9%
Qeveria 7%
PSD6%
HK5%
PR6%
tjera2%
PS30%
LZ Te
23
14
1
16
1
54
21
14
21
2
22
4 43
7
32
1
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA
PAD
PBDN
JPD
PDK
PDR
PDS
PR PSPSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
Politician sound bite Politician context
KORRIERI
10961178
8
1
3
4 4
3
4 4
11 1 1
FATOS N
ANO
GRAMO
Z RUCI
ILIR
META
SALI B
ERISH
A
SKËN
DER G
JIN
USHI
VANGJE
L DULE
- + 0
94164
416
512
SALI BSHA
FATOS NANO
ILIR M
ETA
SKËNDER GJIN
USHI
GRAMOZ RUCI
VANGJEL D
ULE
ERI
23
SHEKULLI
This newspaper has a distinctly supportive attitude towards the DP. On space, there is a clear bias towards the DP as news about the DP occupies 47% of coverage compared to 21% for the SP, whereas Government coverage occupies 12%. The SMI comes third with 10% of the total coverage space followed by the Green Party with 4%. Nano and Berisha share broadly the same coverage space, followed by Ilir Meta and Gramoz Ruci. On context coverage, we find that the DP has more positive information than the SP and Government together. Berisha is covered more positively compared to Nano. Politicians like as Ilir Meta, Genc Pollo, Fatmir Mediu, Leka Zogu. Skender Gjinushi are covered mainly in a positive context except for Gramoz Ruci who failed to receive a single positive point. A
Total time Context
A
PD46%everia
14%
PBDNJ2%
LSI12%
D1%
tjera2%
PS22%
PS Te
SHEKULLI
53
16 1719
8
4
1 2 1
37
3 4
18
2
6
2 1 1 1 1
25
17
1
7
LSI
LZHK
OPOZITA PA
PAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBL PDPDR PR PS
PSD
Qever
ia
Q
- + 0
Politician sound bite Politician context
10
1 1
6
9
6
14
2
1
7
1 1
13
1
FATOS N
ANO
GRAMO
Z RUCI
ILIR
META
SALI B
ERISH
A
SKËND
ER GJI
NUSH
I
VANGJE
L DU
LE
- + 0
SHEKULLI
13158163
848
22332282
FATOS NO
SALI BERISHA
ILIR M
ETA
SKËNDER GJIN
USHI
VANGJEL D
ULE
GRAMOZ RUCI
NA
24
KOHA JONË “Koha Jonë” is strongly supporting the DP and adopts an anti-government stance. Combined space devoted to the SP and Government is 45%, but the context and presentation is overwhelming negative. The SMI comes third with 11% of coverage and is mainly placed in a positive context. The CDP comes fourth and is placed in a positive context at all times. As for individual politicians, Nano comes first with 41% of total space, and is placed mainly in a negative context whereas Berisha comes second 27% placed almost totally in a positive context. Different from the rating of CDP, the leader of this party, Nikolle Lesi, who is also the publisher of Koha Jonë, occupies a unusually high percentage and is placed in a positive context at all times. A
Total time Context
Politician sound bite Politician context
KOHA JONE 28
1 1
5
11
3
12
24
5 5
8
1
6 6
FATOS N
ANO
GRAMO
Z RUCI
ILIR
META
SALI B
ERISH
A
SKËN
DER GJI
NU
SHI
VANGJE
L DULE
- + 0
493555904
2663
4786
7360
FATOS NANO
SALI BERISHA
ILIR M
ETA
SKËNDER GJIN
USHI
VANGJEL D
ULE
GRAMOZ RUCI
KOHA JONE
PS39%
LSI11%
PSD2%
PBDNJ2%
PDK
Qeveria 6%
Te tjera1%
PD33%
84
1 2 1
15
59
1
19
25
4 2 1
7
1 1 1
80
11
2 2
35
4 6
13
3 1 2 3 1
26
1 1 1
17
1
LSI
LZHK
OM
ON
IA
OPOZIT
APAD
PBDN
JPBK
PBKDPBL PD
PDKPDR PR PS
PSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
5%
25
PANORAMA This newspaper has a balanced on space and context for the two main political parties (SP 32 %; DP 34%). The SMI occupies a larger space than in the other monitored newspapers with a rating of 20% and the context is positive. However, when it comes to qualitative assessment, a bias is more apparent. The DP is rated positively compared to the SP. The printed remarks from Nano occupy 29% space compared to Berisha whose printed remarks occupy 24%. Ilir Meta’s own words are covered at 14 %. Nano is covered more positively in terms of context than Berisha. Meta is placed in a mainly positive and neutral context. Most other political leaders occupy only a little space except for Genc Pollo of the NDP, who occupies 4% of the space in a positive and neutral context. A
Total time Context
PD34%
LSI20%
Qeveria 3%
LZHK5%
R3%
tjera3%
PS32%
PD Te
PANORAMA
5
13
1
24
1
30
6
23
8
1 1 2
29
1
53
43
4 3
16
6
13
1
31
7
23
1 1
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA PA
PAD
PBDN
J
PBKD PDPD
KPD
R PR PSPSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
A
Politician sound bite Politician context
PANORAMA
8
1 1
9
1
12
2
8 8
1 1
3
5 5
8
12
FATOS N
ANO
GRAMO
Z RUCI
ILIR
META
SALI B
ERISH
A
SKËN
DER G
JINUSH
I
VANGJE
L DULE
- + 0
40
193
596
907
1467
81
FATOS
O
SALI BERIS
HA
ILIR M
ETA
GRAMOZ RUCI
VANGJEL DULE
SKËNDER GJIN
USHI
17
NAN
26
GAZETA SHQIPTARE
This newspaper has almost balanced reporting about all subjects, and as many others devote small portion of space to Government. They gave to the SP/Government almost the same level of coverage (SP 32%, Government 6%) that it gave to the DP (30%). The SP and DP get almost the same rating, though the Government is mainly rated in a positive context. Coverage is also given to other parties with the SMI third and the MND fourth. The SMI is covered in a negative light. Nano has a higher rate of printed remarks than Berisha who follows closely behind. The positive rating is predominant for Nano whereas Berisha’s positive and negative evaluations are almost the same. Other politicians are given a small coverage except for Ilir Meta with 16%, matching the coverage of his political party. A
Total time Context
PS32%
PD30%
LSI15%
PBDNJ5%
Qeveria 5%
LZHK7%
PD TeR2% tjera
4% SHQIPTARE
10
12
21
1 1
17
67
32 2
21
2
23
4 4
97
21 1
21
29
24
1 1
17
21
LSI
LZHK
OPO
ZITA PA
PAD
PBDN
JPBL PD
PDK
PDR
PDS
PR PSPSD
Qev
eria
- + 0
A
Politician sound bite Politician context 1855
SHQIPTARE
2533199
889
1590
7
1
9
1
8
3
9
2
1
2
1
3
7
1
FATOS N
ANO
GRAMO
Z RUCI
ILIR
META
SALI B
ERISH
A
SKËN
DER G
JIN
USH
I
VANGJE
L DULE
- + 0FAT
ANO
SALI BERISHA
ILIR M
ETA
VANGJEL D
ULE
SKËNDER GJIN
USHI
GRAMOZ RUCI
OS N
27
