http://www.kyivpost.com/top/21909/
Kyiv Post
25Nov2004
Regime's control over TV media crumbling
By ROMAN OLEARCHYK
Post Staff Writer
As the fifth evening of growing civil protests approached on Nov. 25, it
became clear that the ruling regime's control over television media was
crumbling.
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma's establishment had, according to
oppositionist political forces and media experts, used their control over a
handful of channels with nationwide coverage to manipulate voters. Losing
control over the media is expected to weaken support for Kuchma, Prime
Minister Viktor Yanukovych and their cronies in eastern and southern regions
of the country where they benefit from strong support, partly due to the
lack of oppositionist media presence.
On Nov. 25, privately owned television channel 1 1 announced that Vyacheslav
Pikhovshek had been removed as editor of the venue's news programs.
Oppositionist political figures have accused Pikhovshek of spreading biased
news coverage designed to lower support for Yushchenko while beefing up
Kuchma and his allies.
A recent survey of journalists funded by Democratic Initiatives Foundation,
a western-funded NGO, singled out Pikhovshek as the "least trusted"
journalist in Ukraine.
Officials at 1 1 said Pikhovshek would continue to work at the studio as
author of Epitsenter, a political analysis show aired on Sunday evenings.
News programs on 1 1 virtually disappeared earlier this week after
journalists and editors and the channel went on strike in protest of alleged
pressure from management and certain political forces to produce biased
media coverage that favored Kuchma and allies.
In a statement issued late on Nov. 25, the news team announced that they
would resume with fair coverage that evening.
"We guarantee that all information distributed by our channel will be
complete, in accordance with professional standards of journalism," the
statement reads.
At 7:30 pm on Nov. 25, news coverage on TSN resumed, but started with a
short statement from the channel's editorial team. The collective said they
would resume news reports but promised they would be objective, explaining
that previous editorial policy was not so, due to political pressure.
Pikhovshek's departure from TSN follows strikes by journalists at
state-owned television channel First National Channel, known as UT-1, and at
other channels. They include ICTV, owned by Kuchma's son-in-law Viktor
Pinchuk, reputably Ukraine's second richest man. Calls for fair coverage
have also been heard at other channels with nationwide coverage including
Inter, which is controlled by members of the Social Democratic Party of
Ukraine (united), headed by Presidential Administration Chief Viktor
Medvedchuk.
Growing resistance by journalists at these channels seems to have limited
their capability to report on the tense political situation. News programs
have not been frequent, possibly an indication that these channels have
tried to ignore the growing protests.
Editor in chief of Inter's news programs and SDPU(u) member Oleksy Mustafin
disagrees with this notion.
"I think we are covering the events sufficiently," Mustafin said, adding
that he would not comment on what is going on at other channels.
"I don't have time to watch other channels these days. I have heard about
what is going on at the other channels and read about it in media."
Kyiv Post
25Nov2004
Regime's control over TV media crumbling
By ROMAN OLEARCHYK
Post Staff Writer
As the fifth evening of growing civil protests approached on Nov. 25, it
became clear that the ruling regime's control over television media was
crumbling.
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma's establishment had, according to
oppositionist political forces and media experts, used their control over a
handful of channels with nationwide coverage to manipulate voters. Losing
control over the media is expected to weaken support for Kuchma, Prime
Minister Viktor Yanukovych and their cronies in eastern and southern regions
of the country where they benefit from strong support, partly due to the
lack of oppositionist media presence.
On Nov. 25, privately owned television channel 1 1 announced that Vyacheslav
Pikhovshek had been removed as editor of the venue's news programs.
Oppositionist political figures have accused Pikhovshek of spreading biased
news coverage designed to lower support for Yushchenko while beefing up
Kuchma and his allies.
A recent survey of journalists funded by Democratic Initiatives Foundation,
a western-funded NGO, singled out Pikhovshek as the "least trusted"
journalist in Ukraine.
Officials at 1 1 said Pikhovshek would continue to work at the studio as
author of Epitsenter, a political analysis show aired on Sunday evenings.
News programs on 1 1 virtually disappeared earlier this week after
journalists and editors and the channel went on strike in protest of alleged
pressure from management and certain political forces to produce biased
media coverage that favored Kuchma and allies.
In a statement issued late on Nov. 25, the news team announced that they
would resume with fair coverage that evening.
"We guarantee that all information distributed by our channel will be
complete, in accordance with professional standards of journalism," the
statement reads.
At 7:30 pm on Nov. 25, news coverage on TSN resumed, but started with a
short statement from the channel's editorial team. The collective said they
would resume news reports but promised they would be objective, explaining
that previous editorial policy was not so, due to political pressure.
Pikhovshek's departure from TSN follows strikes by journalists at
state-owned television channel First National Channel, known as UT-1, and at
other channels. They include ICTV, owned by Kuchma's son-in-law Viktor
Pinchuk, reputably Ukraine's second richest man. Calls for fair coverage
have also been heard at other channels with nationwide coverage including
Inter, which is controlled by members of the Social Democratic Party of
Ukraine (united), headed by Presidential Administration Chief Viktor
Medvedchuk.
Growing resistance by journalists at these channels seems to have limited
their capability to report on the tense political situation. News programs
have not been frequent, possibly an indication that these channels have
tried to ignore the growing protests.
Editor in chief of Inter's news programs and SDPU(u) member Oleksy Mustafin
disagrees with this notion.
"I think we are covering the events sufficiently," Mustafin said, adding
that he would not comment on what is going on at other channels.
"I don't have time to watch other channels these days. I have heard about
what is going on at the other channels and read about it in media."
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