Coalition 2001

“For Genuine, Free and Fair Elections”

Media Monitoring Report 02—26 December 2001

During the period of December 02 to December 26, 2001 the Coalition 2001 in conjunction with the European Union Electoral Unit undertook a media monitoring project.

This sought to determine how democratic norms and international agreements relating to media during elections are observed. The media plays a very important role informing the voters of the political choices on offer to them in the tripartite elections.

This report indicates how much coverage each party received on each media outlet monitored. It also shows the tone towards each political party.

The methodology is based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the election coverage on the state television channel (ZNBC), four radio stations (Radio2, Radio 4, Christian Voice and Radio Phoenix) and ten newspapers (The Monitor, Times of Zambia, The People, The Voters Voice, The Post, Daily Mail National Mirror and Today). The methodology used combines the expertise of Coalition 2001 and European Institute for the media.

This project has been organised by the British Council and financed by the European Union. Coalition 2001 bears sole responsibility for any views and opinions expressed in this report.

Summary

During the period under review several political headlines graced most of the media outlets’ news programmes. The political headlines in all the media outlets were mainly focused on the MMD’ s country- wide campaigns speared-headed by its presidential candidate and the Republican President, the credibility of the presidential candidates and, accusations and counter-accusations about the sources of funding for campaigns. For the state owned media the tone was assessed as being favourably inclined towards the MMD and critically inclined towards the opposition parties. The non-state owned media on the other hand showed a favourable inclination towards the opposition parties while being critically inclined towards the MMD. The law regulating these elections — the Electoral Code of Conduct of 1996 — requires all media to present information about the parties and candidates contesting the elections to be fair and balanced. Based on the findings of Coalition 2001’s media monitoring for this period, this regulation is being most fragrantly ignored by the state — owned media, in particular ZNBC TV. A notable case of ZNBC TV’s biasness was when it cancelled a Presidential Debate Programme sponsored by Panos Institute which has since threatened to take legal action against the station. Radio Phoenix has been assessed as the most profession in terms of elections coverage during the under review.

Preliminary Findings

• ZNBC devoted 37% of its election coverage to the MMD party and candidates. The other main parties mentioned were ZRP with 12%, UPND and NCC with 9% each. Coverage of the ruling MMD party was largely positive in tone. During the news programmes, ZNBC devoted about 92% of its coverage to the MMD party as compared to the FDD, UPND, UNIP ,HP,ZRP and, NLD which all registered 8% altogether.

• Radio 2 covered more parties as compared to Radio 4 though most of its coverage was devoted to the MMD. Both stations devoted almost 100% of news coverage to the MMD. The tone towards the MMD party from both stations was mainly positive.

• The Non-state owned radio station Phoenix provided a much more balanced pictured of the elections than the state broadcast media. Although it also devoted the most coverage to the MMD, it also gave time to twelve other parties contesting the elections.

• The state-owned newspapers were biased in favour of the MMD. Although they covered more parties than the state broadcast media they tended to praise the MMD and criticise the opposition.

• The non-state newspapers showed a different pattern. They tended to devote a large amount of space to MMD party, though the tone was quite different from that of the state-owned media as it was mainly critical.

Media outlets monitored

State Electronic Media

ZNBC TV

During the period 02 -- 26 December, ZNBCTV devoted 37% of its political coverage to the ruling MMD party. The MMD received 92% coverage in form of news programmes followed by FDD with only 2%. ZNBCTV news and information programmes were dominated by information about the MMD’s activities in government — particularly those of President Chiluba, who has used this access to call on Zambians to vote for the MMD presidential candidate Levy Mwanawasa. News programmes are a significant means by which viewers receive information about the election activities of all serious contenders in an election. Together with the ZRP, the MMD also registered the highest coverage in form of adverts. The rest of the political parties received most of their coverage from the free air time given to all the presidential candidates orchestrated by the Electoral Commission and financed by the European Union.

Graph: Time devoted to the political parties on ZNBCTV 02 —26 December

The tone of coverage on ZNBC TV towards the ruling MMD was either positive or neutral. While that towards the opposition was mainly neutral, with only AZ, FDD and, UPND registering some positive coverage. The balanced coverage towards the opposition parties could be attributed to the type of coverage of which mainly was in form of adverts or special elections programmes. There was very minimal coverage on news programmes for the opposition

Graph: Tone of coverage devoted to the political parties on ZNBC TV (02-26 Dec 2001)

Radio 2

The coverage on this channel mainly was devoted to the MMD and the FDD. The MMD received the highest coverage in terms of news programmes registering almost 100%, while FDD registered the highest coverage in form of special elections programmes. The rest of the political parties received very minimal coverage with NLD and ZAP receiving lowest coverage, and Here give a detailed account of how much time was devoted to the main parties on this channel. Say which party had the most time in terms of news/special programmes/adverts. If a party was shown on a programme in the ‘Other’ category, remark on which programme the party was featured in. Indicate for this week which parties had coverage and which parties were only covered minimally.

Graph: Time devoted to the political parties on Radio 2 02-26 December

The tone of coverage was assessed as mainly neutral towards all the political parties.

Graph: Tone of coverage devoted to the political parties on Radio 2 (02-26 Dec 2001)

Radio 4

About 90% coverage on this radio station was devoted to the MMD. The MMD received the highest coverage in terms of news programmes, special elections programmes and in other forms. FDD, UNIP, UPND and ZRP followed with very insignificant amounts of coverage in form of news programmes.

Graph: Time devoted to the political parties on Radio 4 (02-26Dec 2001)

The tone of coverage was assessed as mainly neutral towards all the political parties.

Graph: Tone of coverage devoted to the political parties on Radio 4 (02-26 Dec 2001)

Non-state broadcast media

Radio Phoenix

This privately owned radio station gave almost balanced coverage to all the political parties with the exception of the NLD, PF, and SDP. The MMD registered the most coverage in form of news programmes , while the HP registered the highest coverage in form of special elections programmes. The picture painted during the period under review indicates that radio Phoenix provided a much clearer picture of political activities during the elections than any of the state broadcast media.

Graph: Time devoted to the political parties on Radio Phoenix (02-26 Dec 2001)

The tone was assessed as mainly neutral towards all the political parties.

Graph: Tone of coverage devoted to the political parties on Radio Phoenix (02-26 Dec 2001)

Christian Voice Radio

This private religious radio station carried very little political information. The MMD received most the coverage — mainly in the covering of government activities. Most of its coverage was in form of news programmes. The Heritage party was second with I coverage coming from a programme entitled “Voters education Programme” and news programmes. The NCC, FDD, AZ, UNIP and UPND received very minimal coverage.

Graph: Time devoted to the political parties on Christian Voice Radio 02-26 Dec 2001

The tone of coverage was assessed as mainly either positive or neutral for all the parties but for the MMD and FDD, which registered some negative coverage.

Graph: Tone of coverage devoted to the political parties on Christian Voice Radio 02 -26 Dec 2001

State-owned Newspapers

The Times of Zambia

This newspaper devoted the most space to the MMD party of about 56% and, covered it in a mainly positive tone. The other parties which had the most articles and comments were FDD 11%, ZRP 7%, UPND, and UNIP registered 5% each. Opinion pieces tended to focus more on the MMD party, in a neutral way. The MMD received its coverage in form of articles or adverts. In general, monitoring indicated that this newspaper was more inclined in favour of the MMD.

Graph: Space devoted to political parties in The Times of Zambia newspaper 02 — 26 Dec 2001

The Daily Mail

This newspaper devoted 52% of space to the MMD and discussed it in a mainly positive tone. The other parties which had the most articles and comments were the FDD 11%, UNIP and ZRP which registered 10%. Opinion pieces tended to focus more on the MMD, in a positive way. This paper also showed a favourable inclination towards the MMD.

Graph: Space devoted to political parties in the Daily Mail newspaper 02 – 26 Dec 2001

Tone devoted to political parties in Daily Mail from 02 - 26/12/01

Non-state newspapers

The Post

This newspaper devoted 37% space to MMD and discussed it in a mainly positive tone. The other parties which had the most articles and comments were FDD 15%,

UPND 1 2%, UNIP 8% and PF 6%. The MMD received most of its coverage in form of articles and the tone was either neutral or negative. The rest of the political parties with the exception of the FDD which registered some negative coverage, received mainly neutral coverage.

Graph: Space devoted to political parties in The Post newspaper 02 — 26 Dec 2001

Space devoted to political parties in POST from 02 - 26/12/01

The National Mirror

This newspaper devoted 49% space to the MMD party with the tone mainly being critical. FDD followed with 16%, HP and PF 6% each, and UPND 5%. The MMD and FDD coverage was either negative or neutral, while the rest of the parties the tone was mainly positive.

Graph: Space devoted to political parties in The National Mirror newspaper 02 — 26 Dec 2001

The Monitor

This newspaper devoted 44% space to the MMD party and discussed it in a mainly in a negative tone. The other parties which had the most articles and comments were the UNIP 27%, FDD 7%, UPND 6%, and NCC 4%.

Graph: Space devoted to political parties in The Monitor newspaper 02 — 26 Dec 2001

The People

This newspaper devoted 45% space to the ZRP party and discussed it in a mainly positive tone. The MMD followed with 24%, FDD 12%, and UPND 6%.The ZRP had most of its coverage in form of articles and adverts.

Graph: Space devoted to political parties in The People newspaper 02—26 Dec 2001

The Voice

This newspaper devoted 45% space to the MMD party and discussed it in a mainly negative tone. The MMD received most of its coverage in form of articles. The UPND followed with 13%, HP 9%, FDD 8% and NLD 6%. Most of the parties, which were mentioned received coverage in form of articles. The tone towards these parties was mainly neutral with the exception of the FDD, which had coverage of only positive and negative tone.

Graph: Space devoted to political parties in The Voice newspaper 02 — 26 Dec 2001

Space devoted to political parties in Voters Voice from 02 - 26/12/01

Today

This newspaper devoted 58% space to the MMD party and discussed it mainly in a critical tone. The other parties which had the most coverage were the UPND 10%, UNIP and FDD 9% each. The rest of the parties received very minimal coverage in either a positive or neutral tone.

Graph: Space devoted to political parties in Today newspaper 02 — 26 Dec 2001

For further information about this media monitoring project, please contact Mwiya Wamundila by telephone on 260-1-236735 or write to Coalition 2001, 1st Floor, Plot 8041, Monitor Building, Karachi Road, Kamwala, P.O. Box 31145.