nstitute of Communication Studies (IKS) announced the third monthly report based on the monitoring of media content through the Rapid Response Media Mechanism in the time-frame of 6th February to 4th March 2016.

The reporting trend of the pro-government media in February was identical to the one during the previous two months of monitoring and reflects the manner in which the governing structure uses the most influential broadcasters to maintain the status quo in terms of the relations of political power. Several key strategies can be identified: (1) use of television news programs as political marketing of the government and the leader of VMRO-DPMNE; (2) selective censorship of political expression; and (3) a media-orchestrated crackdown on dissidents. The conclusions and observations presented in this report were based on a qualitative analysis of 11 programs of news and 38 editions of 11 different current-information programs of public service (MTV 1 and MTV2) and 7 private television broadcasters (Sitel, Kanal 5, Alfa, Telma, Alsat M, 24 news and TV21).

The report is developed within the project “Monitoring of democracy in Macedonia” (MODEM), which aims to determine whether broadcasters comply with professional standards in reporting on political figures defined in the Code of Journalists of Macedonia and codes of international organizations over the pre-election period.

More information about MODEM you may find at: http://respublica.edu.mk/izvestai-modem