Media Monitoring Report

8/3/2019 Media Monitoring Report

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Media Monitoring Report

Election 2008

By

Civic Education Network

(www.pakistanpolitics.org)

Part-I

PAKISTAN TELEVISION (9:00 p.m. Khabarnama)

The Centre bifurcated data for Pakistan Television in to three periods. First from

December 1- 26, 2007. Second from December 27-31, 2007 and third from January 1-31,

2008.

December 1-26, 2007

Political Parties:

During December 1-26, 2007 the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) got 57

minutes and 58 seconds. The closest second Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarian got25 minutes and 52 seconds. In terms of time PML-N remained third with 22 minutes and

37 seconds. The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) got 13 minutes and 57 seconds, Muttahida

Qaumi Movement got 8 minutes and 54 seconds, Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao 7minutes and 34 seconds, Jamaat-i-Islami 6 minutes and 44 seconds, Awami National

Party 2 minutes and 50 seconds, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf 2 minutes and 7seconds.

Among political alliances, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal got 6 minutes and 1 second whereasAll Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) got 5 minutes and 41 seconds.

The President and the Caretakers:

During December 1-26, 2007 the President got one hour eighteen minutes and thirty eight

seconds. The share of the caretaker prime minister was 52 minutes and 24 seconds.

Among others the governors got 37 minutes and 33 seconds, caretaker chief ministers got45 minutes and 37 seconds. The share of caretaker ministers remained one hour twenty

minutes and forty four seconds.

December 27-31, 2007

The day Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated the balance dramatically shifted in

the coverage. The PPP got I hour, 28 minutes and 46 seconds coverage, whereas thePML-Q got 9 minutes and 37 seconds. The other political parties that figured in

Khabarnama were PML-N 5 minutes and 54 seconds, PPP-Sherpao .45 seconds, JUI-F 24

seconds. However the president and the caretaker prime ministers got 15 minutes and 14minutes respectively.

January 1-31, 2008


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Political Parties:

During January 1-31, 2008 the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) got 1 hour, 14minutes and 36 seconds. The closest second Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarian got

32 minutes and 23 seconds. In terms of time PML-N remained third with 17 minutes and

22 seconds. The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) got 5 minutes and 47 seconds, MuttahidaQaumi Movement got 8 minutes and 31 seconds, Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao 6

minutes and 18 seconds, Awami National Party 2 minutes and 41 seconds.

During January All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) did not get any coverage on

the PTV.

The President and the Caretakers:

During January 1-31, 2008 the President got one hour fifty two minutes and thirty

seconds. The share of the caretaker prime minister was one hour and thirty eight minutes

and fifty nine seconds. Among others the governors got 53 minutes and 17 seconds,caretaker chief ministers got I hour 20 minutes and 35 seconds. The share of caretaker

ministers remained two hour five minutes and thirty five seconds.

Private Television Channels:

It was difficult to select the private channels for monitoring because the curbs on cable

were there and the countrys popular channel GEO was off-the cable. Therefore theCentre selected only two channels. GEO is being monitored since February 1, 2008.

The situation at private channels remained better.

Aaj TV: (8:55 p.m. bulletin)

From January 1-31, 2008

On Aaj TV the Pakistan Peoples Party got 1 hour 45 minutes and 23 seconds, the share

of the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-I-Azam) was 26 minutes and 57 seconds. The

PML-N got 33 minutes and 27 seconds. The MQM got 10 minutes. Awami NationalParty got 1 minute 37 seconds, Jamaat-i-Islami 9 minutes and 29 seconds, Jamiat

Ulema-I-Islam (F) 1 minute and 3 seconds, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf one minute.

The APDM got 20 minutes and 26 seconds.

The share of the President was 35 minutes and 36 seconds, caretaker prime minister 19

minutes and 1 second. The governors and the caretaker chief ministers got 8 minutes and32 seconds. The share of caretaker ministers was 31 minutes and 44 seconds.

ARY ONE WORLD: (10:00 p.m. bulletin)

From January 1-31, 2008


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On ARY ONE WORLD the Pakistan Peoples Party got one hour twenty three minutes

and fifty five seconds, the share of the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-I-Azam) wasforty five minutes and forty five seconds. The PML-N got 48 minutes and 50 seconds.

The MQM got 33 minutes and 50 seconds. Awami National Party got 1 minute 30

seconds, Jamaat-i-Islami 3 minutes and 5 seconds, Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam (F) 2 minutesand 48 seconds, PPP-Sherpao 45 seconds, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf 2 minutes and 20

seconds.

The APDM and MMA got 5 minutes and 47 seconds.

The share of the President was 48 minutes, caretaker prime minister 20 minutes and 20

seconds. The governors and the caretaker chief ministers got 12 minutes. The share ofcaretaker ministers was 36 minutes and 55 seconds.

This reflects that the private channels privileged the political parties in their coverage

when the nation was going to Elections.

Part-II

Paid Party Broadcast:

December 11, 2007-February 12, 2008

Total spent PKR 244.75 million, 169 hours 57 minutes, total adverts 17058

The Centre monitored paid political broadcasts on major television channels.

The PML-Q emerged as the major advertiser it had 12,278 adverts of total

duration of 105 hours. Estimated cost of these adverts according to channels

tariff cards becomes PKR 175.84 million. The PML-Qs adverts appeared on34 channels including Pakistan Television.

The PML-N had 463 adverts of total duration of 17 hours 49 minutes.

Estimated cost of these adverts according to channels tariff cards becomePKR 24.26 million. The PML-N adverts appeared on 17 channels including

Pakistan Television.

The PPP had 2343 adverts of total duration of 18 hours 33 minutes. Estimated

cost of these adverts according to channels tariff cards become PKR 15.89

million. The PPP adverts appeared on 19 private channels.

The ANP had 4 adverts of total duration of 1minute, 17seconds. Estimated

cost of these adverts according to channels tariff cards become PKR 12,501.

The ANP adverts appeared only on one private channel.

The PML-Functional had 665 adverts of total duration of 10 hours, 19minute,

and 56 seconds. Estimated cost of these adverts according to channels tariffcards become PKR 1.3 million.


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The PML-Mahar Group had 94 adverts of total duration of 35 minute, and 19seconds. Estimated cost of these adverts according to channels tariff cards

become PKR .45 million.

During this period Election Commission of Pakistan in co-operation withUnited Nations Development Program ran voters awareness campaign for 11

hours, 31 minutes and 58 seconds. Its 1071 adverts appeared. Estimated cost

of these adverts according to channels tariff cards become PKR 24.24 million.

The MQM did not opt for TV adverts campaign and adopted a novel way to

get publicity besides advertising on Local Cable Networks, the City DistrictGovernment of Karachi has placed 12 supplements (we monitored only two

Karachi based newspapers) and 23 adverts to highlight the achievements of

Haqprast Nazim.

Analysis:International IDEAs media checklist

Does the legal framework for elections ensure that all political parties and

candidates are provided access to the media and equitable treatment in

media owned or controlled by the state?

The Election Commission of Pakistan did not issue any specific Code of Conduct for

Pakistan Television-run on tax payers expense. The PTV was clubbed with independent

private channels, whereas the PEMRA has no jurisdiction over the PTV. The PEMRAdid not release any report to share its findings with the nation.

Does the legal framework establish a formula for media access and

equitable treatment that is fair, understandable and capable of objective

application?

Number of Candidates: If the number of candidates fielded by any party could be a

formula to determine the quantum of coverage:

S. No. Party Punjab Sindh NWFP Balochistan Capital Total

1 PPP 146 61 28 14 2 251

2 PML-Q 140 27 21 13 2 203

3 PML-N 140 38 24 7 2 211

4 MMA(JUI-F)

36 31 28 13 2 110

5 MQM 43 59 12 6 1 121

6 ANP 2 7 25 6 1 41

Source: (Basic information from the Election Commission of Pakistan website tabulated by the Centre for CivicEducation Pakistan)

Does the legal framework provide for free expression during election

campaigns?


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PEMRA issued numerous directives to private channels. The Public Service

Broadcaster, PTV started Election Hour on February 7, 2008

Does the legal framework provide that no party or candidate shall be

discriminated against in terms of access to the media or, where paid

advertising is permitted, in being overcharged for political advertising?

Almost all parties had the opportunity to advertise, if they wished so. In print media

even an opportunity for negative adverts was also available. However on electronicmedia there were no negative adverts.

Does the legal framework ensure that the ruling party does not get

disproportionately large media coverage in the guise of news editorial

coverage?

At least on Public Service Broadcast the former ruling party PML-Q got preferential

treatment.

Code of Conduct for Media:

No.F.2(19)/2007-Cord.-WHEREAS, under Article 218(3) of the Constitution of theIslamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 read with Article 5(3) of the Election Commission

Order, 2002, as amended, it is the duty of the Election Commission to organize and

conduct the election and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that theelection is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt

practices are guarded against;

AND WHEREAS, under Article 220 of the Constitution it shall be the duty of allexecutive authorities in the Federation and in the Provinces to assist the Chief Election

Commissioner and the Election Commission in the discharge of his or their functions;AND WHEREAS, it is expedient to ensure that the coverage on television relating to

election related activities is fair, unbiased and balanced in respect of any particular

political party, candidate or a leader to enable the Election Commission to ensure that theelection is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law and that

discrimination against any political party, leader or a candidate is guarded against;

AND WHEREAS, Article 6 of the Election Commission Order, 2002 empowers the

Election Commission to issue such directions or orders as may be necessary for the

performance of its functions and duties, including an order doing complete justice in any

matter pending before it and an order for the purpose of securing the attendance of anyperson or the discovery or production of any document and that any such direction or

order shall be enforceable throughout Pakistan and shall be executed as if it had been

issued by the High Court;

NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the provisions of Article 218(3), Article 220 of the

Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 read with Article 5(3) and Article6 of the Election Commission Order, 2002, and in exercise of all other powers enabling it


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in that behalf, the Election Commission of Pakistan is pleased to direct that the Pakistan

Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) will monitor the operations of all TV

Channels including State-owned TV (PTV) and ensure that coverage as to electoralactivities of the Political Parties till Polling Day of the upcoming General Elections is

fair, unbiased and balanced.

( Islamabad, the 20th November, 2007)

Documents

Media Monitoring Report