Media monitoring focuses on assessing media coverage, with reference principles such as the right of access, allocation of coverage and balance in the mass media. Media monitoring will be conducted using international methodological standards of quantitative and qualitative analysis.

The monitoring unit will observe media coverage of the elections in order to assess:

• The access granted to political parties and independent candidates in the mass media and whether the coverage of candidates is fair and balanced;
• whether candidates standing for election were covered in an unbiased and equitable manner;
• the tone of media coverage towards the candidates.

The monitoring will select a representative sample of broadcast and print media. The audiovisual media will be monitored daily during peak time viewing and listening throughout the period of the election campaign. The print media will also be monitored on a daily basis.

As well as measuring the time and space allocated to political actors, parties and candidates, the media unit will also assess the tone of media coverage according to a three level scale (positive, negative and neutral) in order to calculate the nature of the overall tone of the media outlets towards contestants and the different political parties.

The media analyst co-ordinates a monitoring team responsible for preparing a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the performance and the content of the major electronic and print media in Bangladesh. The media monitoring team will inform the EU EOM of the performance of the media during the electoral process through regular reports. The assessment of media performance will form part of the overall evaluation of the election process.

Media expert: Francesca Boggeri

Contact: francesca.boggeri@eueombangladesh.org