MEDIA MONITORING

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MEDIA MONITORING

• CLARA MULONYA ASS. PRO (MACRA)

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BACKGROUND

• Media Monitoring Equipment was acquired from
  Malawi Electoral Commission in October, 2005
• This was done with due permission from the
  British High Commission who were the owners of
  the equipment
• Monitoring Equipment is a collection of several
  electronic devices that monitor and record
  broadcast programmes

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IMPORTANCE OF MEDIA MONITORING

• MACRA is able to check if broadcasters are
  complying with license conditions
• The equipment is used to verify complaints from
  the public
• MACRA is now able to produce weekly performance
  reports using the data collected from the
  equipment

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WHY DO WE MONITOR?

• To ensure that full, fair and balanced political
  coverage is given at all times
• MACRA is mandated under Section 54 (1) of the
  Communications Act to monitor the compliance of
  broadcasters to regulations and licence
  conditions
• To verify complaints using recorded material

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MEDIA MONITORING WEEKLY REPORTS

• Currently MACRA is only monitoring news bulletins
• The most critical area of media monitoring is the
  balance of news
• Balancing of news is shared between positive and
  negative news to a political party or candidate
• Data regarding positive and negative news is
  entered on a daily basis in specially designed
  log sheets
• Data is then entered in the computer using a
  special package that automatically formulates
  graphs

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WEEKLY REPORTS (Cont)

• Weekly performance reports for each station are
  produced
• The reports are distributed to the stations
  involved and other stakeholders i.e. Malawi
  Electoral Commission
• Currently MACRA has produced fifty six (55)
  reports

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WAY FORWARD

• MACRA intends to purchase a digital media
  monitoring unit that will use computers to store
  information
• Media Monitoring Unit should also monitor
  programmes, presentation format and language used
  on broadcasting stations
• Media Monitoring Unit should receive, investigate
  on all broadcasting complaints

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THANK YOU

• m a c r a