BIRODI: 55 hours & 54 minutes of Vucic on Serbia's TVs main news in five months

N1

The Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI) analysed the main news programme of TVs channels in Serbia with national frequencies – state RTS1, and three pro-government TVs: Prva, Pink, O2, Happy and the independent N1 cable channel and found out that President Aleksandar Vucic consumed 55 hours and 54 minutes of news prime time in five months, N1 reported on Wednesday.

The results were compared to 2017 and showed a rise in time dedicated to domestic politics, while three years ago nearly 60 percent of news programme was about the economy.    

„What is not good is that the so-called positive reporting is on the rise. And that means that the participants talk without being asked, analysed… On the other hand, the neutral and negative reports decline, i.e. there is a lack of analysis and criticism. Besides, and that is very important, in 2012 when we had a model called ‘equal and more equal’, we had two electoral lists and two presidential candidates presented in the media, while now we have ‘one and unequal.’ Or, we have Aleksandar Vucic’s dominance on one side and other politicians somewhere on the side. And when they are presented, it’s mostly in a negative way,“ BIRODI’s Zoran Gavrilovic said.