PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2008

NO. 3

M EDIA M IRROR

JUNE 2008

Media Monitoring in the Republic of Macedonia, 2008 / Editor: Goran Stojkovski, Ph.D / Analysts: Biljana Mihajlovska, Daut Dauti, Vasil Ashtalkovski, Marijana Markovic, M.A / Monitors: Aleksandar Stevanovski, Aneta Necak, Edmond Sotir, Sultana Culeva / NGO Info - center: Nikola Trimpare 18-1/5 1000 ; tel/fax: (02) 3233 560; (02) 3216 690, [email protected]; [email protected] www.nvoinfocentar.org.mkНВО Инфоцентар Извештај, ноември - декември 2007 страна 1 од 13

CONTENTS

1. Introduction 3

2. Media Approach to Social-Political Events and Manner of Information 4 2.1. General Conclusions 4 2.1.1. Comparative Data on Campaign Coverage 4 2.2. Comment on Media Approach to Topics 5

APPENDICES Error! Bookmark not defined. Intensity of Publication of Material per Media Error! Bookmark not defined. For the period: May 26–31, 2008 Error! Bookmark not defined.

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 2 NGO Info-center, June 2008

1. INTRODUCTION

"Media Mirror" is a programme for continuing monitoring of the media in the Republic of Macedonia, which aims to provide a clear picture of the professional standards and criteria of reporting applied by the media, but also on the manner in which they cover and interpret the key social processes and events. This edition of the Media Mirror presents the results of the monitoring and analyses of media coverage of the Parliamentary Elections 2008, for the period from May 26 to May 31, 2008. A special methodology was designed for the purpose of this monitoring, first of its type in Macedonia, which was tested and implemented by a team of one editor, four analysts and four observers. The monitoring included six daily newspapers and six national television broadcasters: “Vecer”, Vreme”, “Dnevnik”, “Utrinski vesnik”, “Koha”, “Spic”, A1 TV, Kanal 5 TV, MTV 1, MTV 2, Sitel TV and Alsat-M TV. The media were selected for the monitoring on the basis of the perceived influence they have, or may have, on the general public in the Republic of Macedonia. The applied methodology shows whether the media treatment of the events is thorough, moderate and balanced; whether the journalist texts and stories are supported by precisely named and identified sources; whether they consulted all sides involved in conflict situations; whether they avoid making arbitrary comments and evaluations; etc. In addition, the analysis explores the manner in which the information is presented (scope, time, source and placement); whether it was accompanied with appropriate illustration; what was the treatment given to diverse political options and personalities, the divers ethnic and cultural values, through the use of terminology and language; how did they use the journalistic genres and whether there were and what were the differences between the monitored media in terms of presentation of same events or phenomena. The monitoring and analysis aim to present factual data on the position individual media adopted towards the election campaign of the political parties and coalitions involved in the Elections. The monitoring and the analysis explain if the analysed articles and TV stories have adopted positive, negative or neutral approach in the reports covering the activities of political parties and the campaign developments and activities. In addition to various political platforms, coalitions, political parties and their respective campaigns, special attention was paid to the reports on political figures, institutions, ethnic and religious communities, in the context of the elections. The subject of this analysis was the media treatment of: 1. Coalition “For Better Macedonia” (FBM - VMRO-DPMNE and others) 2. Coalition “Sun – Coalition for Europe” (SDSM and others) 3. Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) 4. Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) The selection of these entities was made on basis of the following criteria: 1. The current position in the Parliament; 2. There ranking after the last Parliamentary Elections; 3. Assumed influence in the media and on Macedonian politics, public opinion and society. A total of 475 published items were analyzed during the period covered by this analysis: text, illustrations, cartoons and comics, articles in the central news programmes covering the said topics. Paid political advertising are airtime commissioned by political parties for reports from their rallies were not subject to this monitoring. We did, however, take into account political advertising aired within the news programmes, but not in the regular advertising programming blocs. This monitoring covered the following news programmes: 1. А1 TV 26-31.05.2008: 19:00 h. 2. Kanal 5 TV 26-31.05.2008: 23.00 h. 3. MTV 1 26-31.05.2008: 23.00 h. (“Macedonia votes”) 4. MTV 2 (Programme in Albanian) 26-31.05.2008: 22:00 h.

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 3 NGO Info-center, June 2008

5. Sitel TV 26-31.05.2008: 18.00 h. 6. Alsat-M TV 26-31.05.2008: 20:00 h.

2. MEDIA APPROACH TO SOCIAL-POLITICAL EVENTS AND MANNER OF INFORMATION

2.1. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

● In the last week of elections campaign, VMRO-DPMNE and its Coalition for Better Macedonia kept the advantage in the media coverage enjoyed during the campaign. It also kept the dominance established through the media owned by leaders of political parties in the FBM coalition. That dominance was further augmented by the exhaustive coverage dedicated to the incumbent technical Government and its achievements and successes in the news programmes of the public TV service.

● At the finale of the election campaign, the media were mainly divided into: a) the media that followed, analyzed and criticized the actions of the FBM coalition and the Technical Government; and b) the media that were enthusiastic in their positive treatment of the FBM Coalition and the incumbent Government. Such propagandist approach was greatly evident in the media owned by leaders of parties directly involved in the Coalition.

● The main cause for criticism directed at the FBM Coalition was the fact that “VMRO-DPMNE’s leader skilfully avoided all topics that could have threatened his success at the ballot”. Most commentators say that those topics were of national interest and that the whole society, not just the political opponents, expected to be answered by the incumbent Prime Minister. According to the media, those topics include the name dispute, the failure to get membership invitation from NATO, the possible fiasco of negotiations with EU, the deteriorated international position of the country after the NATO Summit in Bucharest, rising inflation and unemployment rates.

● A number of media were especially critical of the manner in this the campaign was conducted. The journalists say that the campaign was a manifestation of verbal and physical aggression of the participants, aimed to install fear and uncertainty with the citizens. Although there was less open criticism of the very fact that early elections were called, it continued, however, because of concerns that it may result in failure to meet the “ninth condition for EU membership”, the fair and democratic elections. Some media criticized the Ministry of Interior over engaging a huge number of policemen while failing to deal the delicate situation properly.

● The media criticism of the decision for call for early elections was especially evident in the context of violent incidents in the Albania political bloc. The media were almost unanimous in their view that violence may seriously undermine the stability of the country. They all put emphasis on statements by international representatives, noting that the two parties of the Macedonian Albanians “were closely tied to their Macedonian partners”, emphasizing the “those ties could be used to ease the tensions”.

● The most common commentary of the campaign can be summarized as follows: “This was one of the dirtiest campaigns in history, and there is no need to comment on the incidents any more”. In that context, the commentators called on the public to say: “Enough! We should not allow certain groups, individuals and irresponsible politicians make us all live in fear”.

2.1.1. Comparative Data on Campaign Coverage

For a detailed statistical breakdown of each media's coverage of individual parties and coalitions, see the appendix to this Report (Table on Intensity of Publication of Materials Per Media in the Analyzed Period).

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 4 NGO Info-center, June 2008

2.2. COMMENT ON MEDIA APPROACH TO TOPICS

Coalition “For Better Macedonia" There was great contrast between the discourses used by two distinct groups of media. On one side were the media strongly critical of the FBM Coalition, on the other side were the media that had only strong praise of it. VMRO-DPMNE and the technical Government are the dominant partners in the coalition. The monitoring registered the whole range of articles, from those offering strong criticism, negative opinions and prognosis, to articles that offer uncompromising and total praise and enthusiastic promotion of Coalition policies and its representatives. The criticism in “Utrinski vesnik”, “Spic” and “Dnevnik” was particularly intensive. The main characteristic of their coverage is the criticism preceded by longer or shorter analysis of the manifested behaviour of the target of the criticism. There was an evident intent to analyze the policies and actions in such a manner as to provide the basis for the criticism.1 The media share the general impression that “VMRO-DPMNE’s leader skilfully avoids all topics that may threaten his success at the ballot”. Most commentators say that those topics were of national interest and that the whole society, not just the political opponents, expected to be answered by the incumbent Prime Minister. According to the media, those topics include the name dispute, the failure to get membership invitation from NATO, the possible fiasco of negotiations with EU, the deteriorated international position of the country after the NATO Summit in Bucharest, rising inflation and unemployment rates. It was that behaviour, the efforts to avoid a debate on the sensitive issues is the basis for the intensive criticism. The raising of patriotic emotions, says “Utrinski vesnik”, is not the right solution for Macedonia (“There are things that Gruevski doesn’t want the voters to know, for if they knew, it will be hard for them to believe that the country will flourish once VMRO-DPMNE wins the power again?”, May 27, 2008). Gruevski’s idea for a referendum on the name of the country is, for the daily, “an attempt to hide behind the people” as his preferred method to “escape the personal and political responsibility”. However, “the Greek referendum and the Macedonian referendum on the same issue will mark the end of our ambitions regarding the Euro-Atlantic integrations”, the daily comments in the article “We Will Elect the Government with the Police” (May 30, 2008). “Spic”, too, maintained its critical approach to the same issues. In fact, “Spic” put its emphasis on the name-dispute, in the context of NATO and EU integrations. In two articles, “Blame it on George Bush” and “George couldn’t do it but Jelko will?” of May 26, 2008, with a hefty dose of irony directed at Gruevski, the daily interpreted the “orange version of Macedonia’s failure”: “The Government did what it could, but George Bush couldn’t take us into Europe, says Gruevski. And we don’t expect any help from the Slovenian sods whose names we don’t know. I see that Macedonia does know how to treat its friends”. “Dnevnik” has similarly strong comment of VMRO-DPMNE’s practicing of power, saying that: “The deficiencies of our legal system, now abused by those in power... without offering the citizens protection from the system itself” (“Life goes on, Nothing changes”, May 26, 2008). The positive opinions in “Vreme” 2 doesn’t balance its criticism of the Government for its approach to the issue of rising oil prices. Although the daily quoted experts who say that the prices of

1 There are several elements in the discourse of these media that are used as foundations for their criticism of the party: а) the insistence on the early elections, which complicates, rather than accelerates, the Macedonian integrations into EU and NATO; b) uncontrolled spending from the Budget to cover for the party’s needs, which could result in rising inflation rates and devaluation of the Denar; c) douts that NATO and EU integrations, and the solution for the name- dispute as requirement for the membership, may not be the priorities of the party, as evident in Gruevski’s view that “no significant changes will be seen in the country if we didn’t make it into EU and NATO”; d) control of the media and silencing their role as vox populi, which “Utrinski vesnik” noted was attempt to “get the 61 seats in the Parliament through the owners of private TV broadcasters” (“The face on the millions of orange posters”, May 26, 2008). 2 The sole positive opinion of the work of the incumbent Government is expressed when comparing the two coalitions’ economic programmes, with “Vreme noting that “for the sake of truth, the party in Government did bring a refreshing approach in the fact that it tried to implement the items listed in its election platform after it took the power”

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 5 NGO Info-center, June 2008

fuel cannot fall through cuts in VAT and excise taxes (“Budget Overflows, Citizens Burnt”, May 29, 2008), it did criticise the Government over the fact that “it sleeps peacefully in spite of the expensive fuel and the new wave of higher prices that lies ahead”. In an editorial titled “Hooked on Excises” of May 29, 2008, the daily criticises the Government for its “obstinate and stubborn” intention not to cut the taxes because “that was how the Budget was projected”. Invoking the "simple math", "Vreme" asks "Who is it that knows nothing of the economics?" and further attacked the Government for its bragging about the way it filled the Budget not with rising production of the economy, but through rising prices. The editorial concludes that “with such Budget tailored plans and projections", we may not escape the old proverb "Woes to the nation with strong state and poor population". In spite of the fact that its reports on the agricultural sector had hugely positive effects on VMRO- DPMNE’s campaign, we could say that A1 TV practiced predominantly neutral reporting.3 On the other hand, “Vecer” daily’s coverage of the campaign is marked by absolute and total support and promotion of results achieved under VMRO-DPMNE’s rule, with particular emphasis on PM Gruevski, compared to the its dismissive and critical views of Radmila Sekerinska, the leader of opposition SDSM. In that sense, the reports on the central national rally of VMRO-DPMNE were especially impressive. “Vecer” concludes, in a headline on May 27, 2008, that “Europe Means Standards and Order, the Words Synonymous with VMRO-DPMNE”.4 The discourse used by Sitel TV is almost identical in tone. Some Government activities – its employment, salaries and standards of living policies - are not treated as part of the election campaign but as attempts to deal with the “very essence of life” (May 29, 2008). As strong as Sitel TV’s criticism of the opposition was, far stronger and determined was its praise for the FBM Coalition, above all for Gruevski and VMRO-DPMNE. Unlike the opposition and its "no holds barred" campaigning, it said, the ruling coalition's rallies offered no "vulgar language and mentioning of various pieces of cloting and undergarments”, with care "not to hurt the feelings of any segments of the population”. The broadcaster never doubted the fact that Elections will succeed, at least in terms of high turnout, having in mind that "250,000 pensioners, 110,000 people in the public administration, students, farmers and employees in the healthcare system" are interested for them to succeed and their pensions and salaries to grow, together with investments in education and agriculture, etc." On a number of occasions, Sitel TV reported that support that the ruling coalition gets from a number of entities, like municipal organizations of the Liberal Party (LP), the fraction inside NSDP, the OMO "Ilinden" organization of Macedonians in Bulgaria (May 26; May 28; May 30, 2008). In spite of its correct reporting, there was the general impression that MTV 1 public service broadcaster was far more interested in the activities of the FMB coalition. The huge attention it paid to the Coalition, through intensive coverage of activities of Government ministers/carriers of its electoral lists designed to promote the work of the technical Government during the campaign period, MTV1 provided full media support to the campaign activities.5

(“Analysis: macro-economic effects of VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM’s platforms/Both Options fighting unemployment”, May 28, 2008). 3 The attention paid to agriculture is evident from the number of reports dedicated to the topic, but the broadcaster doesn’t put direct emphasis on the importance of Government subsidies, but the benefit they bring to the farmers are presented by the farmers themselves. A1 TV, for example, emphasized that “this year, there will be no throwing away melons and cucumbers to rot. The farmers got promises that they produce will be bought” (May 29, 2008). It didn’t mention, however, the secure placement of agricultural produce with any of the Government’s activities, but with the entry of foreign companies that will purchase the produce. 4 Comparing Gruevski and Sekerinska, after SDSM presented its challenge for a televised debate, “Vecer” comments: “However, Nikola (Gruevski) doesn’t want the debate. Sekerinska is too small a fish to face the top dog. She didn’t go through qualifying rounds. Her ratings lower than Xhaferi, Thaqi, Ahmeti, Petkovski, Crvenkovski... she can’t make it into the semis of the tournament who would face Gruevski” and “In the meantime, Nikola (Gruevski) signed an agreement with ‘Iskra’ to open five hundred new jobs. The skirt, on the other hand, can bring only one new job. So, what is more important? Radmila’s skirt or Nikola’s five hundred jobs” (“Skirt”, May 26, 2008). 5 The monitoring noted, on May 31, during the campaign silence period, an omission that is probably due to technical reasons. At the start of the 23:00 h. news, two news of May 28 were aired – the signing of the Memorandum for Cooperation with French company “Montipe”, and the report on the start of works on the business centre build by

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 6 NGO Info-center, June 2008

Sun – Coalition for Europe “Vecer” daily continued its counter-campaign aimed at SDSM and its President Sekerinska, the leaders of the Sun Coalition. While interpreting a video advertisement of the Sun Coalition, “Vecer” used a series of articles with fierce criticism and often vulgar contents (“Skirt”, May 26, 2008; “SCANDAL – SDSM Views its Own People as Hooker Picked up on the Street", May 29, 2008). The daily offered an excuse for its use of vulgar and indecent language - "don't be mad about our vulgarity, but about their provocations".6 At the end, the daily used its apologies to the readers for the unbecoming language to strike at SDSM: "Was it vulgar? Yes, possibly too vulgar. SDSM, though, obviously doesn’t think so when presenting elections and politics as exercise in prostitution, with voters being the fucked party. We apologize, at the end, for the form of our response to the vulgar ad aired by SDSM. Ultimately, we are all voters and we don’t allow to be presented as a girl of questionable morals, which is an insult to both the female gender and the whole Macedonian people. As desperate Sekerinska may be, this is too much!” (“Vecer”, May 29, 2008). "Vecer" didn't report on the central rally of the Sun coalition of May 27, quite opposite approach to that applied to the FBM coalition, its own rally getting the front-page just of itself ("Vecer", May 27, 2008)7. The Coalition was targeted by strong criticism in the news programmes of Sitel TV. Over 50 percent of the articles offer strong opinions in the leads. The criticism is intended either for direct attack on the opposition, or to increase the praise of the Government. The strongest criticism is reserved for the opposition's "dirty campaign". After the video “No Repentance is Good after June 1”, Sitel TV noted that the opposition relies on the “dirtiest methods seen in Macedonia so far. From mention of skirts to video ads that there is no use feeling sorry after a one night stand”. In their view, the opposition first insulted the women with the "sexist" campaign, reducing them to nothing more than a skirt, and revolted the rest of the population with the message that there is no use "feeling sorry after a one night stand" (the interpretation was followed by editor's apology for the harsh language used) (May 28; May 29, 2008). SDSM was criticized because it demanded that "police is held responsible” for the incidents in 2008, in spite of the fact that Sitel TV itself condemned the incidents, called for fair elections and suggested that the responsibility should be shared by "Macedonian institutions" and prominent political figures (May 27; May 29, 2008). The last week of the campaign was marked, among other issues, by a press conference held by SDSM, in which they aired filmed footage from a closed-door session of NSDP, with saying that PM Gruevski went to Bucharest Summit with accepted proposal to change the name of the country. That event drew a strong division line between the media. Some media used it in favour of SDSM led coalition, the other in favour of VMRO-DPMNE and its coalition. Kanal 5 TV, for example, has connected its report with the report on the secession of a faction of NSDP and their joining VMRO-DPMNE, aired immediately after it. The order of the articles works in favour of SDSM, simultaneously discrediting a seceding member of NSDP, now in the Sun Coalition, and the leader of the opposing coalition, Nikola Gruevski. Although it refrained from direct opinions, by reminding the two coalitions of their agreement not to involve the name-dispute in the election campaign, A1 TV criticized them both for their failure to stick to the agreed principles, but also to "maintain the national unity and country's positions on the eve of continued negotiations with Greece". On the other hand, the broadcaster didn’t miss noting that Elenovski's party will support VMRO-

Slovenian company EPA at the Skopje Fair. Without explanation of the mistake, the second report was cut in half, and the news of May 31 started with new opening credits. 6 Allow us to use the language used by SDSM (please, don’t be mad at our vulgarity, but to their provocation). Let’s see the underlying message of the ad. –There is no feeling sorry after a fuck. The fucker in the ad commissioned by SDSM wears orange, and the girl, representing the electorate doesn’t realize what happened and cries ‘I don’t want to do it with you”. By the way, the guy in orange is a nice and decent young man that would be the choice of many girls. And if it was not for the guy in orange, who would have fucked her next, since the girls role is to be fucked and nothing else. Will she be fucked by the old pimp, the corporate president, or her lesbian boss? The guy in orange, at least, is not the pimp or a lesbian boss (May 29). 7 The daily didn’t publish a report on the rally of Sun Coalition in any of the following days, although, as we noted, it did report on the rally of the FBM coalition.

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 7 NGO Info-center, June 2008

DPMNE in the reporting on his statement presented by Sun Coalition. The brunt of the criticism was directed at Elenovski, whose statement was seen as “causing public turmoil” and was then accused of being confusing in his attempts to explain it, without saying "what was it that he meant exactly and in what context". A1 TV wouldn’t question the correctness of the opposition’s move, nor if Gruevski’s statement was true or not - "in spited of Gruevski's doubt of a possible conspiracy by Elenovski and the Sun Coalition" (May 29; May 30, 2008). Sitel TV, on the other hand, saw it as another part of the SDSM’s “smear campaign” against Gruevski. According to the broadcaster, it makes no sense to accuse Gruevski, because it was Elenovski that made the statement. The correct and professional reporting on MTV1 public broadcaster was overshadowed by the great dominance of the FBM coalition over the Sun Coalition in terms of sheer quantity of coverage, by a ratio of three to one. The monitoring registered the fact that MTV1 aired the report from the Sun Coalition central rally in Skopje (May 27) with one day delay, although the report was announced in the 19:30 news to be aired in the "Macedonia votes" programme. Although it may have been due to technical reasons or the length of the rally, the editorial office didn't mention it in any way. During the period covered by this analysis, “Vreme” daily approached the campaigns of the two coalitions in a balanced way, both in terms of reporting and criticism. "Utrinski vesnik", "Dnevnik" and "Spic" maintained their generally positive view of the Sun Coalition in the last week of the campaign. It seems that these media were under the great impression of the staunch and emphatic pro- European orientation of the Sun Coalition and its leader Radmila Sekerinska. Also, the three dailies were turned away by the expensive campaign conducted by VMRO-DPMNE and the lack of transparency of its spending. Therefore, they all emphasized the fact the SDSM campaign was much more frugal and modest in spending money on advertising, and yet more efficient in sending the message to their opponent. “Sun's campaign was much more modest and challenged the opponents straight in the face", ("The Undecided with Decide the Elections”, “Utrinski vesnik”, May 30, 2008). At the same time, "Utrinski vesnik" often promoted the fact that SDSM campaign was "oriented to find an exit from the probably danger of isolation of the country, offering also a model for political stability”. “Spic” directed its energy and messages to giving prominence of Sekerinska’s view in the headlines of the articles: “Sekerinska” Seven More Days Until the Sun Rises”, “Sekerinska: Nobody is Safe if there is Shooting in ”, “Sekerinska Won’t Allow for Games to be Played with the Sun” (May 27, 28 and 29, 2008). The daily published its second interview with Sekerinska, announced at the time of the first interview of May 9. Having in mind the negative views on the politicies, activities and positions held by VMRO-DPMNE and Gruevski (“Secret Police Tricks Come with Price-Tag Attached", "We all Invest in the 'Renewal'", "Serb-like message", "We aren't innocent, are we?", "Blame it on George Bush”), it is not difficult to conclude at whom the "Vote European" editorial was directed (“Spic”, May 30, 2008). Although the articles published by “Dnevnik” aim to report, they are packaged to present the coalition in a positive light, usually evident in the headlines, such as "The European Sun Rises over Macedonia". In the interview with Radmila Sekerinska of May 27, 2008, the journalist conducting the interview notes, in one of the questions, that "the party (SDSM) was fiercely opposed to the decision to call for early elections, which would mean more precious time would be lost in terms of meeting EU and NATO criteria”.8 The coverage of the Sun Coalition campaign in the Albanian language media remained low, usually restricted to brief reports from its rallies. In the last week of the campaign, “Koha” daily carried an interview that Radmila Sekerinska gave to BBC. While it carried interviews with leaders of parties of Macedonian Albanians and Sekerinska, published originally by other media, "Koha" didn't publish an interview with Nikola Gruevski, possibly because BBC didn't interview him. Alsat-M TV treated the two major coalitions identically, dedicated seven reports to each of them. The presence of the two Macedonian coalitions in the news programmes of this Albanian language broadcaster was somewhat lesser than the parties of the Macedonian Albanians.

8 ”It was you and the SDSM that were the fiercest opponents to the decision to call for early elections. One month after the Parliament dissolved, do you think that Macedonia lost some precious time in the negotiations on the name and the criteria it has to meet the start the negotiations with EU?” This question was put in a special box, under the headline “Fatal policies”, referring to policies implemented by VMRO-DPMNE (May 27).

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 8 NGO Info-center, June 2008

Democratic Union for Integration Almost without exception, the Macedonian language media, in one form or another, repeated the message that the incidents threaten the future of Macedonia. The bulk of the published articles and stories report on the parties of Macedonian Albanians in the context of campaign incidents. The media reported more frequently on those events in which DUI and its activists, especially its leader Ali Ahmeti were the victims. The media criticism of the two parties especially intensified after the warnings issued by international community representatives, having in mind, as the media quickly noted, that the incidents usually happened after such repeated appeals for free and fair elections. The headlines used by “Spic” daily, “Tetovo Like a Giant Pressure Cooker” and “ and Tetovo at Boiling Point" (May 29; May 31, 2008), in fact, summarise the media reactions over the last week of the campaign. The media, even those allied with the FBM Coalition, constantly remind the state institutions about their responsibility in such situations. In that context, we could use the commentary in a Kanal 5 TV report of May 29, "Almost all incidents remains unsolved". In the Albanian language media, DUI's presence is almost double that of the Macedonian parties. Although the Macedonian language media present exactly the opposite ratio of coverage, there is a difference of the quantity of representation at Albanian language media as opposed to the quality of coverage of their Macedonian language counterparts. While Albanian media treat the activities of Macedonian political parties only superficially, formally and briefly, the Macedonian language media coverage is much wider in scope and with higher quality contents. On the incidents in Tetovo on the day before the start of Electoral silence period, the media attacked DUI's passive approach to the behaviour of its own activists ("Unlike this, yesterday evening in Tetovo was full of tensions. The police knows of nine incidents that took place before and after DUI's rally, and for eight of them prime suspects are DUI's activists. Ahmeti’s party, on the other hand, continues to accuse the Alpha police force”, Kanal 5 TV, May 30). A1 TV wouldn’t say directly who, in their view, caused the incidents and who was involved, just carried MVR's claims that some of the involved carried DUI's insignia and that the name of former Deputy Minister of Defence Talat Xhaferi was mentioned (May 30, 2008). Sitel TV reported that "the entry road to the city was besieged by DUI activists”, that the tensions between the activists and the Police was reaching boiling point and that gunplay was involved by “luckily, everything passed without serious incidents”. The broadcaster offered explanation of the way the "tensions were created through verbal exchanges between the people who gathered in the rally and the police" but also the way in which Ahmeti was greeted at his arrival in the rally, with "huge fireworks assisted by gunfire" (May 30, 2008). While the other broadcasters reported on the incidents that took place before and after the rally - on which DUI came forward with serious accusations for provocations by DPA and the Police and blocked Tetovo because the arrests of their members - MTV1 reported just on the rally (May 29, 2008). The next day, it covered the press conferences of the Ministry of Interior (MVR) and the head of DUI Campaign Headquarters on the events of the previous day (May 30, 2008). So, MTV1 totally ignored an event that created great turmoil in the public, among political parties and state institutions, and informed only of the reactions of the next day. AlsatM TV dedicated balanced reporting to the activities of the two parties of Macedonian Albanians. In its news, DUI got just two reports more than its rival, the DPA. AlsatM TV presented the news of the campaign activities without additional comments, and took great care to give space to the views of both parties in conflicting situations. MTV2 – Programmes in Albanian public service broadcaster failed to secure balanced reporting either in terms of timing or the sheer number of articles, with four articles on DUI’s activities to ten articles to DPA. The monitoring registered reports presenting DPA's accusations against DUI, without the views and opinions of the latter, and didn't explain if they attempted to get those opinion in the first place (DPA accused DUI’s activists of preventing its activities in Kicevo, as well as that municipal mayors from DUI preventing the implementation of Government projects, May 26, two reports). “Koha” daily’s approach to the two parties, in terms of quality of reporting, was neutral, and both getting purely descriptive reports. In terms of quantity, the situation is quite different, with 2 to 1 ratio in favour of DPA (21 articles to 11 dedicated to DUI). In the last week of campaigning, “Koha” criticized the DUI commissioned TV ad which,

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 9 NGO Info-center, June 2008

according to the daily, was a “marathon of uncensored violence”. The daily commented that it was a series of “...horrific images accompanies with moving sound-bites were aired under the auspices of the campaign propaganda". The comments referred to the use of footage from the police raid in the village of Brodec. The objections were directed to DUI, but also to the Broadcasting Council, the “Albanian and Macedonian broadcasters”, and primarily to AlsatM TV which, according to “Koha”, aired the ad at times when a parental advisory warning was needed for certain age groups.9

Democratic Party of Albanians The general remarks on the media coverage of DUI's campaign activities are equally applicable to DPA. Majority of monitored media reported on its election rallies. The reports on the incidents surrounding DUI’s rally in Tetovo offered general opinions on the perpetrators of violent incidents, regardless of which party they belong to. In that context, we should note that Macedonian language media were not inclined against DUI or DPA, but against violence in general. However, during the period covered by this analysis, DPA was slightly more criticized than DUI for they way it’s used its position in the Government for campaign purposes. The theft of broadcasting equipment from AlsatM and Art TV’s broadcasting tower was seen, by all media, as cause of great concern and serious violation and threat of the campaign process. None of the media tied DPA to this incident, but they all carried the statement by Muhamed Zeqiri, AlsatM TV Editor-in-Chief, that “they first received threats from Deputy Minister of Interior Elmazi that his would bring them on charges for their reporting on the police raid in Brodec, which was followed by the theft several days later” (“AlsatM and Art TV’s Transmitters Stolen”, “Utrinski vesnik”, May 27, 2008). “The transmission equipment on the tower operated by AlsatM and Art TV in Temnovo, near Tetovo, were stolen last Saturday, which is seen as pressure on the two broadcasters" (Kanal 5 TV, May 29, 2008). The lead to this story presented the theft as an attempt to silence the media (“Unprecedented offense intended to silence the media at a critical point of time. American Embassy demands from the authorities to quickly discover the thieves"). Most media were intrigued by the possibility of the leaders of the two Albanian parties to retire from politics, which they announced would happen after the elections. “Ahmeti’s retirement will depend on the results in the elections, while Thaqi said that he wants to leave his position to new people after June 1, because his time as transition politician nears the end" ("What did Thaqi and Ahmeti Say about the Elections", "Utrinski vesnik", May 30, 2008). The daily, on the other hand, noted the discrepancy between American style of Thaqi’s public appearances and his destabilizing rhetoric (“Utrinski vesnik”, May 30, 2008). The opening of the “Zef Ljus Marku” high school attracted the attention of Macedonian language media for two reasons - the use of Albanian language only at the opening ceremony, but also because of the efforts to give political overtones to the event. “Just three days before the Elections, the complete leadership of DPA appeared at the opening of the unfinished building of ‘Zef Ljus Marku’ highschool’”, commented Kanal 5 TV (May 28), quoting articles of the Consitition to put emphasis on the illegal use of Albanian language.10 A1 TV also dedicated great attention to the opening ceremony, reminding its viewers of all scandals that accompanied the construction works, and didn't miss to note that "Minister Rushiti, in the company of Thaqi and Selmani, his party colleagues, was there to cut the red ribbon” (May 28). The broadcaster noted the opening ceremony was a campaign activities, having in mind that the event takes place at the end of schoolyear, and the building has not been equipped.11 “Dnevnik” daily commented that Minister Rushiti and other members of DPA leadership were present at the opening, while the Minister addressed the gathered audience solely in Albanian. The daily also carried

9 “It seems that the ad was missed by the monitoring, although it steps right over the rules on protection of children and minors from programmes that may have negative effect on their psychophysical development” (“Party Propaganda without Limits Victimizes the Children”, May 29). 10 “The Constitutional changes of 2001 allow the Albanian MPs to use Albanian language when speaking to the Parliament, but Albanian ministers in the Government are obligated to use Macedonian in official Government activities. Rushiti doesn’t find this as political meddling in the education system”. (May 28). 11 “For campaign purposes, the school building opens at the end of the school years, in spite of the fact that the classrooms lack desks and chairs” (May 28).

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 10 NGO Info-center, June 2008

DUI’s reaction that DPA abused education for political purposes, thus degrading it ("DUI and DPA Feud over 'Zef Ljus Marku'", May 29, 2008). AlsatM TV news presented a very balanced approach to the two Albanian parties, dedicating very much equal attention to their campaign activities and other public appearances (press conferences, statements, etc.). We could view as one specific of its coverage the effort of the broadcaster to avoid covering the activities of DPA when the party representatives are involved as Government officials. The news on MTV2 - Programmes in Albanian, always started with reports on DPA's activities, regardless of whether the reports covered rallies, statements or activities of its leader, or activities of Government officials from its ranks. The editorial office regularly presents the responses on DUI's accusations, but doesn’t present the very accusations that were caused for DPA to respond (for example, the accusations against DPA regarding the Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of Albanians in Macedonia, May 28, 2008). The monitoring noted unbalanced presentation of the carriers of the candidate lists of the two parties. “Koha” presented the leader of DPA’s list Abedin Zimberi12, but didn’t present the leaders of the lists of the other parties in the same district, nor the carriers of party lists in other districts, including DPA ("DPA will Continue the National Road", May 27, 2008).

12 The portrait of Abedin Zimberi makes it clear that he comes from prominent Albanian family in the village of Slupcane, and that his family lost 10 members in the 2001 conflict.

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 11 NGO Info-center, June 2008

APPENDICES

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 12 NGO Info-center, June 2008

INTENSITY OF PUBLICATION OF MATERIAL PER MEDIA

For the period: May 26–31, 2008

Media Total MTV2 (per Topic А1 Spic Vecer Vreme Dnevnik Kanal MTV1 in Sitel AlsatM Utrinski Koha topic) 5 Albanian vesnik

1. Coalition “For Better Macedonia" 17 16 11 7 12 10 53 3 34 7 14 6 190

2. Sun – Coalition for Europe 11 12 5 6 10 9 16 2 11 7 10 4 103

3. DUI 5 7 3 4 6 7 8 4 2 13 6 11 76

4. DPA 4 5 2 3 4 5 7 10 1 11 5 21 78

Total (per media) 37 40 21 20 32 31 84 19 48 38 35 42 447

Media Monitoring in Republic of Macedonia 13 NGO Info-center, June 2008