Liana Yeghiazaryan
“Radiolur”
In general, there has been no discrimination against political forces or possible presidential candidates in the pre-election period, the Yerevan Press Club has concluded as a result of the monitoring of media coverage of the presidential elections.
In the period from December 1 to December 15 Armenian media mentioned the names of 41 persons as possible candidates.
The monitoring was conducted among H1, Armenia, Shant, Yerkir Media, Kentron, H2 and ArmNews TV Companies, the Public Radio of Armenia and Armradio FM 107.
According to the results of the monitoring, ArmNews paid greatest attention to the political forces and possible candidates with Shant and Armenia having the least coverage.
The Armenian broadcasters focused most on five political forces – the Republican Party, the Prosperous Armenia Party, the Armenian National Congress, the Armenian Revolutionary federation and the Heritage Party.
Serzh Sargsyan was mentioned most frequently as a possible candidate, with Gagik Tsarukyan and Raffi Hovhannisyan coming next. The names of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Vardan Oskanian, Robert Kocharyan, Vardan Sedrakyan, Paruyr Hayrikyan were also mentioned.
Shant, H1 and Armenia TV Companies were the most “neutral,” Navasardyan said.
The Yerevan Press Club will conduct the second stage of the monitoring during the election campaign.
