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Report n. 3 11 March-161 March 2009 Composed by the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety
Baku, 17 March 2009 - Institute for Reporters` Freedom and Safety, an independent, non-partisan Azerbaijani NGO dedicated to freedom of expression and the media, systematically monitored media coverage of the 18 March referendum. IRFS sought to evaluate the mass media's performance in providing objective and balanced coverage of the candidates and their platforms so the citizens of Azerbaijan could make well-informed choices at the ballot box. The monitoring assessed the portrayal of initiative groups by the press and coverage of the issues of the referendum, and will continue until the end of the official campaigning period. The project's findings have been determined through a well-defined and rigorous methodology and are not intended to support any one view regarding the referendum, but the integrity of the media environment as a whole during the campaign period. This project is implemented with support from the UK Embassy in Azerbaijan. Within the framework of this project, three interim reports have been published, in addition to this cumulative report. Between 11 March and 17 March 2009, IRFS continued to monitor eight TV channels2 and seven newspapers3. The monitoring team analyzed TV programming and daily newspapers, and assessing findings on the time or space allocated for referendum issues and registered initiative groups.4 In addition, because one of the recommendations put forth in the referendum is related to eliminating term limits for the president, IRFS also included incumbent President Ilham Aliyev as a subject in the monitoring. The tone of the coverage was also evaluated. Quantitative analysis measures the total amount of time devoted to monitored subjects on all programming between 5 p.m. and midnight. Qualitative analysis evaluates the tone in which the monitored subjects have been portrayed – positive, neutral or negative. The methodology for this referendum included two group of monitoring subject. Group A is political figures/actors and Groups B is referendum issues (see Appendix III). Tables are presented in Appendix I and II show which subjects from Group A and Group B received absolutely no coverage at throughout the duration of this monitoring project. SUMMARY OF RESULTS
The main tendencies were the same as those observed during the second monitoring period: - The concrete issues of the referendum are not being discussed or analyzed in detail on TV, with the exception of Public TV, where such conversations are occurring only when authorized representatives of initiative groups address citizens while utilizing their free airtime.
The ten minutes of free airtime given to each registered initiative group weekly on Public TV5 remains inadequate for in-depth, fruitful discussions on the issues of the referendum. In the state-funded newspapers Khalg, Respubika, and Azerbayjan, and private newspaper Yeni Azerbayjan are providing some coverage of the issues that will be voted on during the referendum, however this materials is almost exclusively in support of the proposed changes to Azerbaijan’s Constitution. In contrast, material in the private newspapers Azadlig and Yeni Musavat on the issues that will be voted on during the referendum is almost exclusively general or against the proposed changes. Zerkalo Newspaper has allocated very little space for discussion of the referendum, and most material that has been published is neutral.
During this monitoring period, all TV channels and state newspaper allocated significant space and time for positive coverage of incumbent President Ilham Aliyev. Notably, there was no direct coverage of Aliyev on Public TV. This was first monitoring period in which social advertisements6 were observed. Starting on March 12, they appeared on Public TV, Lider, AZTV and Space. In total, social advertisement were shown 112 times on these fours channels. They were four versions of the social advertisements for the referendum. One was 19 seconds and called for people to exercise their right to vote, the second was 56 seconds and noted that referendum was about 29 Articles of the Constitution (it did not name explicitly the articles or provide further information), the second was 1 minute and 30 seconds and provided information on how to voted and the fourth was 1 minute and 40 seconds and explained how votes would be counted. With exception of propaganda of Respublikachilar Initiative Group in Yeni Musavat Newspaper, paid propaganda material for the remaining nine initiative groups was not observed. Each initiative group was given 23,000 AZN from the Central Election Commission for paid advertisements. *IRFS will unveil its final cumulative report in the near future. **Please see attachment for quantative indicators from the newspapers and TV channels. Appendix I: Political Figures and Referendum Issues not covered during this monitoring period on TV | AZTV | A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7,A8,A9 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B31 | | Lider | A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29,B31 | | ANS | ------------------------------------- | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B31 | | Space | A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7,A8,A9 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B31 | | Khazar | A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B31 | | Public TV | ------------------------------------ | B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18,B19, B21 B24, B25, B26,, B27, B29, B31 | | Idman-Azerbayjan | A1,A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8,A9, A10 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 | | ATV | A2, A3, A4, A5, A7, A8,A9, A10 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 |
Appendix II: Political Figures and Referendum Issues not covered during this monitoring period in newspapers
| Yeni Azerbaijan | A3, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B6, B7, B9, B10, B11, B12, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 | Zerkalo
| A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 | Khalq
| A10 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 | | Respublika | ------------------------------------------ | B1, B2, B4, B6, B7, B9, B11, B13, B14, B15, B17, B18, B19, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 | | Yeni Musavat | A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A10 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B21, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 | | Azerbayjan | A4, A9 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20,B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 | Azadlig
| A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A10 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B18, B19, B20, B22, B23, B24, B25, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31 |
Appendix III: Key for abbreviations used in monitoring for Political Figures (Group A) and Referendum Issues (Group B) “A” Group – Political Figures A1 – “Yeni Azerbayjan” Initiative Group
A2 – “Shahar”
A3 – “Taraggi”
A4 – “Hugug va Demokratiya”
A5 – “Vetendash jamiyyeti”
A6 – “Davamli Inkishaf namina”
A7 – “Zaka”
A8 – “Respublikachilar”
A9 – Qarabagh və Respublika Ughrunda Herekat”
A10 – Other people
A11 – incumbent president Ilham Aliyev
“B” Groups – Referendum Issues B0 – General issues related to the referendum
B1 – Article 12. Supreme Goal of State
B2 - Article 15. Economic development and the state
B3 - Article 17. Family and the State
B.4. - Article 19. Monetary Unit
B.5. - Article 25. Right to equality
B.6. - Article 28. Right to freedom
B.7. - Article 29. Right to Property
B.8. - Article 32. Right to Personal Inviolability
B 9. - Article 39. Right to live in a safe environment
B10. - Article 48. Freedom of Conscience
B11. Article 50. Freedom of Information
B12. Article 67. Rights of detained, imprisoned and people accused of committing a crime
B13. Article 71. Human and Civil Rights and Freedoms
B14. Article 72. Basis of citizens’ duties
B15. Article 75.Respect for State Symbols
B16. Article 84. Term for call to Republic of Azerbaijan Milli Mejlis
B17. Article 88. Sessions of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Milli Mejlis
B18. Article 92. Organization of work of Republic of Azerbaijan Milli Mejlis
B19. Article 95. Issues resolved by the Republic of Azerbaijan Milli Mejlis
B20. Article 96. Legislative Initiative Right
B21. Article 101. Foundations for Republic of Azerbaijan’s presidential elections
B22. Article 108. Provisions for President of the Azerbaijan Republic
B23. Article 109. Authority of Republic of Azerbaijan President
B24. Article 125. Judicial Power
B25. Article 129. Court decisions and their execution
B26. Article 130. Republic of Azerbaijan Constitutional Court
B27. Article 131. Republic of Azerbaijan Supreme Court
B28. Article 146. Provision for independence of municipalities
B29. Article 149. Regulatory Legal Acts
B30. Social Advertisement
B31. Article 18. Religious Faith Freedom |
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