Newsroom
Kosovo Albanian newspaper fined for political bias
PRISTINA 31 October 2001
PRISTINA, 31 October 2001 (OSCE) - The Kosovo Albanian-language newspaper Bota Sot has been fined for not providing fair and balanced media coverage on all political entities participating at the 17 November general election.
The Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission found that Bota Sot had shown a clear bias in favour of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). It had an equally negative bias towards other political entities.
The paper was fined DM 5,500 for violating electoral rule standards. Half of this fine must be paid within seven days. The remainder will be waived if Bota Sot provides fair and balanced media coverage across the whole political spectrum for the rest of the campaign period.
On the basis of this case, the Commission will continue investigating all claims against media which are not in compliance with provisions of the electoral rules, though it will not examine whether individual news items are in line with professional journalistic standards.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo regularly monitors print and broadcast media and increases its activities during the electoral campaign to include political coverage.
The Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission found that Bota Sot had shown a clear bias in favour of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). It had an equally negative bias towards other political entities.
The paper was fined DM 5,500 for violating electoral rule standards. Half of this fine must be paid within seven days. The remainder will be waived if Bota Sot provides fair and balanced media coverage across the whole political spectrum for the rest of the campaign period.
On the basis of this case, the Commission will continue investigating all claims against media which are not in compliance with provisions of the electoral rules, though it will not examine whether individual news items are in line with professional journalistic standards.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo regularly monitors print and broadcast media and increases its activities during the electoral campaign to include political coverage.