CAMPAIGN COVERAGE: BROADCAST REGULATOR WARNS TV, RADIO COMPANIES TO “WATCH OUT” FOR POLITICAL REFERENCES
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
03.04.12 | 11:59
An Armenian broadcast regulator has changed its methods of monitoring
the media coverage of the 2012 parliamentary election campaign due
to a larger number of journalists and artists involved as candidates
in the race.
Thus, the National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR) will
regard any appearance of such candidates on TV or radio programs as
an instance of political campaigning, its officials warn.
The election campaign in the May 6 parliamentary vote will officially
start on April 8 and will be on until May 5, which is formally a
“Day of Silence” ahead of the polls. On the basis of its methodology
developed ahead of this campaign the NCTR will monitor the television
and radio broadcasts to see how far the television and radio companies
meet the requirement of providing equal conditions to candidates.
The Election Code stipulates that television companies must provide
an unbiased coverage to all political parties and blocs participating
in the race and abstain from making evaluations in their regard.
NCTR member Armen Lazarian explained to ArmeniaNow that the appearance
of a journalist or an artist registered as a candidate in the current
elections will be seen as an instance of political campaigning.
“For a person conducting the monitoring a candidate’s profession or
occupation makes no difference, it doesn’t matter whether he or she
is an official, or a singer, the moment he or she is registered as
a candidate and the official campaign starts, appearing on TV and
in radio programs will be viewed as part of a political campaign,”
said the official, adding that the NCTR has warned all TV and radio
companies about this provision.
Among the candidates running for parliament on the lists of parties
or contesting parliament seats on an individual basis are a number
of media professionals, such as Aravot daily journalist Margarit
Yesayan (on the Republican Party’s ticket), A1+ TV company journalist
Gayane Arustamyan (a non-partisan candidate backed by the opposition
Armenian National Congress), radio journalist Arax Poghosyan (on the
joint list of candidates of the Heritage and Free Democrats party),
168 Zham newspaper editor Satik Seyranyan (contesting the elections on
an individual basis). During the election period they will temporarily
stop their professional activities. Television appearances of prominent
singer Shushan Petrosyan, a candidate on the Republican Party list,
in the capacity of a vocalist, or the shows of her video will also
be seen as political campaigning.
And popular actor, film director and screenwriter Yervand Manaryan,
who is a candidate on the Armenian National Congress’s list, was
informed by the H2 TV company administration that during the days of
the official election campaign he cannot be involved in the shootings
of the popular “4+” serial produced and shown by this channel.
“I see no problem if this is what the law requires. Simply, it is
my work, and I don’t think it represents any campaign,” Manaryan
told ArmeniaNow.
According to the NCTR member, showing of all films with the involvement
of the popular actor, such as “The Bride from the North”, “Chefs
Have Come for a Competition”, and others will also be regarded as an
election campaign material.
“If a TV company shows a movie or a concert where an actor or
a singer that is also a candidate is seen, for example, for 20
minutes, then the company should also make sure that it lets the
other candidate or candidates have their images profiled for as long,
so as to avoid creating unequal conditions for candidates,” the NCTR
official explained.
Feature films or documentaries containing positive or negative
references to candidates or political parties, including in
the historical contest (such as about the Communist Party or
Dashnaktsutyun, both of which are contestants in the current race)
will also be viewed as campaigning. (Among such films are, for example,
“Zangezur”, “Saroyan Brothers”, “Orchestra Guys”, and others).
“Even if one of the respondents during a vox pop conducted by a TV
company in the streets wears a party badge, it will also be viewed
as campaigning,” Lazarian added.
Meanwhile, the public and private television companies have set prices
for political advertisement during the approaching campaign period.
After certain amendments in the Election Code, these prices have
mainly dropped as compared to those quoted by TV companies during
the last parliamentary elections in 2007.
According to the amended Election Code, the price of one minute of
political advertisement on television shall not exceed the average
price of one minute of commercial airtime during the preceding
six-month period.
Thus, the highest price asked for a minute of political advertisement
is set by Shant TV – 120,000 drams (or about $310), the lowest being
ArmNews TV’s – 18,000 drams (about $47).
A minute of political advertisement on Public Television will cost
a political party or a candidate 80,000 drams (about $205), which is
the same price as in 2007.
On Monday, Central Election Commission head Tigran Mukuchyan said
that Public TV airtime for political campaign purposes will begin
every day at 6:00 pm, and for the Public Radio of Armenia, it will
be twice a day – from 1:30 pm and from 9:40 pm.
For election campaign purposes, the Public Television Company is due
to provide each political party or bloc with an opportunity to use
60 minutes of free airtime and up to 120 minutes of paid airtime,
and the Public Radio Company will provide 120 and 180 minutes of such
airtime, respectively.