Malawi: Electoral body cautions state media houses

“The stations should be giving all the people, whatever their political affiliations, the chance to hear contrasting views and policies,” said MEC's Commonwealth media advisor Tim Neale.

Last year all media houses in Malawi signed a memorandum of understanding pledging to adhere to a Media Code of Conduct.

“The clear evidence from the meticulous monitoring is that, while newspapers and a number of electronic media have made real efforts towards equitable coverage, some broadcasting stations had not made any substantial move in that direction by February 6, 2009,” he said.

Neale said TVM made very little movement towards balance in the three week period that followed the first Media Monitoring Unit report.

He said the fact that TVM also gave relatively small amounts of negative coverage can hardly be counted as contributing to a level playing field when compared with the almost total lack of balance elsewhere.

Turning to MBC, Neale said although the radio station is by far the one with the longest history it is failing to lead the way in the development of democratic broadcasting.