ARMENIAN MASS MEDIA COVER SERZH SARGSYAN MORE FREQUENTLY THAN HIS RIVALS
arminfo
2008-02-25 15:45:00
ArmInfo. Armenian mass media covered the presidential campaign of
Serzh Sargsyan in the period from January 21 to February 17 more
frequently than the other candidates, says the monitoring of the
coverage of presidential elections 2008 by broadcast media of Armenia
undertaken by Yerevan Press Club and "TEAM" Research Center with the
support of Open Society Institute.
The monitoring covered 8 broadcast media: 4 national TV companies –
First Channel of the Public Television of Armenia, "ALM", "Armenia",
Second Armenian TV Channel; 3 TV companies of Yerevan – "Yerkir Media",
"Kentron", "Shant"; 1 national radio company – Public Radio of Armenia.
Thus, Head of Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardyan said at a press
conference, Monday that within the period under review the airtime
given to Serzh Sargsyan made up 102074.4 seconds, to Levon Ter-
Petrosyan – 87687.6 seconds, to Vahan Hovhannissyan – 87567.5 seconds
and to Artur Baghdasaryan – 74209 seconds. Most of all references
were made to Serzh Sargsyan 1384 (including 264 positive and 60
negative). 1232 references were made to Levon Ter-Petrosyan (22
positive and 406 negative). References to Artur Baghdasaryan totaled
902 (33 positive and 31 negative). 767 references were made to Vahan
Hovhannissyan (52 positive and 2 negative). Thus, S. Sergsyan is the
leader by the positive references and Levon Ter-Petrosyan by negative
references. Kentron TV Channel made the most negative reference to L.
Ter-Petrosyan (105). Then go Second Armenian Channel (66), First
Channel (Public TV) (63), and Yerkir Media (57). Armenia and
Shant TV channels displayed the most correct attitude during
the campaign. Armenia TV made only 24 negative references
(20 to L. Ter-Petrosyan, 3 to Serzh Sargsyan and 1 to Tigran
Karapetyan). Shant TV made 29 negative references (24 to L.
Ter-Petrosyan, 2 to A. Baghdasaryan and by 1 to S. Sargsyan,
A. Geghamyan and V. Manukyan). The only candidate who received only
neutral references was Aram Haroutunyan. Arman Melikyan received
generally neutral references and 2 negative references from ALM.