Compared to 2002-2009, news programs became significantly less political by nature. At the beginning of the year of parliamentary elections, only every fifth news message is related to politics and the topic of 2012 elections is left uncovered.
The attention is focused on weather whims and resulting negative consequences in public utility sector and safety of roads and cities’ streets, as well as on conflict relations with Russia.
During the first week of February, only every fifth message in the news programs was related to political events in Ukraine. The largest share of political news was at TVi (37%) and UT-1 (28%).
Channel 1+1 traditionally prefers other news on events in Ukraine (their share in February was 61 percent), while the share of “other news” is the lowest at TVi (22 percent). International political events related to Ukraine have the largest coverage at TVi (13 percent) and ICTV (10 percent).
Also interesting is the fact that the topic of economy and finance in news programs is paid less attention than the topic of accidents and disasters (12 percent vs. 18 percent).
Basically, two types of events dominated in news programs in February: natural disasters/accidents and frost/bad weather.
Tension in bilateral relations between Russia and Ukraine, including gas and cheese related problems, in total accounts just for 10 percent of mentioned events. The 2012 elections were mentioned only in the context of other events (2 percent), i.e. this topic has never been a major event.
The tape scandal in the Ukrainian parliament did not become a high-profile incident.[Roman Zabzaliuk, a lawmaker in the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko faction, claimed to have documented on tape how President Viktor Yanukovych’s supporters paid him $450,000 to switch from the BYuT faction to the pro-presidential majority]
It was about on the same level of coverage as for President Viktor Yanukovych’s speech in Parliament. Just as in September 2011, TV channels’ attention to reforms is minimal (1 percent); the same refers to the election of a new ombudsman (2 percent).
The lowest share of news messages on political events through presentation of just one point of view was at Novy Kanal (18 percent) and Inter (30 percent), while the largest share of such news messages was at UT-1 (89 percent) and 1+1 (76 percent).
In February, 16 major events were presented in news programs from alternative points of view (in September 2011 – 13 events). In addition, 92 percent of news messages on the tape scandal in the Parliament, 75 percent of news messages on new Criminal Code, and 55 percent of messages on the Yulia Tymoshenko case were presented from alternative points of view.
Third, another trend confirmed in February is related to the fact that, on all TV channels, the distribution of attention and sound bite in news programs is in favor of representatives of state power and ruling coalition. As previously, the least balanced distribution of attention and sound bite is at UT-1; more balanced – at TVi, СТB, and TRC “Ukrayna.”
Overall, 63 percent of all references to politicians are related to the representatives of state power and ruling coalition, 29 percent – to opposition and 8 percent – to other politicians (in October 2011, these indicators were 67 percent, 27 percent and 7 percent accordingly).
In February representatives of the ruling coalition and state power were most often mentioned on UT-1 (80 percent), and opposition politicians on TVi (40 percent). Other politicians in February were most often mentioned on CTB (17 percent) and Inter (16 percent).
As for sound bite/sync, representatives of ruling power account for 65 percent, opposition 25 percent and other politicians 10 percent (in September 2011, these indicators were 76 percent, 14 percent and 10 percent accordingly).
Direct speech of representatives of state power and ruling coalition on UT-1 constituted 86 percent (in September 2011 – 98 percent). Representatives of the opposition received the largest share of sound bite/sync on TVi (40 percent), CTB (36 percent) and TRC “Ukrayna” (35 percent..
In addition, new trends were revealed.
Conflict related/argumentative context of events’ discussion constituted 55 percent and is the largest for the last years. The highest argumentative context of events’ discussion was on CTB (66 percent) and TVi (65 percent). The lowest conflict related/argumentative context in February was observed on UT-1 (35 percent). Events were most presented in negative context on ICTV (11 percent), Inter and TRC “Ukrayna”10 percent each.
Attention to political parties, political persons and political parties is nearly the same as in October last year: 16 percent, 41 percent, 71 percent.
It is worth noting that officials and politicians (34 percent) comment on events more often than citizens (30 percent). This significantly differs from situation in 2011, when during all months of monitoring citizens, as a rule, commented on events more often compared to politicians. Over the first week of February this was the case only on СТB (39 percent vs. 27 percent) and Inter (43 percent vs. 40 percent).
Among the political parties the leaders of attention from news programs over the first week of February were opposition in general (9 percent), BYuT-Batkivschyna (7 percent) and Party of the Regions (6 percent).
Attention to other parties is minimal: Communist Party of Ukraine – 0.6 percent, “Svoboda” – 0.4 percent, “Front Zmin” (Front of Changes) – 0.2 percent.
Negatively ironical coloring of messages more often accompanied information on opposition in general – 2 percent, while for the Party of the Regions this indicator constituted 1 percent.
Attention to Yanukovych constituted 11 percent (in October 2011 – 17 percent, in September – 12 percent); to Tymoshenko – 9 percent; to Prime Minister Мykola Azarov – 7 percent; to Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn – 4%.
Overall, 28 politicians are mentioned more than in 1 percent of news messages. Half of them are assessed/estimated exclusively neutrally.
The data of February monitoring again confirm the general trends towards differentiation of TV channels’ positions, and disproportion in attention and soundbite/sync in favor of ruling power. UT-1 traditionally has the worst indicators. In addition, continued distraction of auditors’ attention from politics to criminal events, accidents and natural disasters is observed.
Valery Ivanov is president of the Academy of Ukrainian Press. Monitoring research was carried out by the academy with participation of scientists of the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine through the method of content analysis of prime-time news programs of 8 leading Ukrainian TV channels– Inter, 1+1, Novy Kanal, TRC “Ukrayna”, СТB, ICTV, UT-1, and TVi. This monitoring research became possible due to the support of the American people. Monitoring results shall be the exclusive responsibility of the Academy of Ukrainian Press and not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Internews Network. One of the founders of this monitoring research is International Renaissance Foundation.
