State Media Journalists Admit Bias

An anonymous survey has been held recently in Homel among journalists. About 20 per cent of the journalists who work in Homel region - state newspapers, radio and television, journalists of independent media -- took part in the survey. They were proposed to estimate their work and their media along 18 criteria.

Lack of informativity and precision was rated first. The problem of self-censorship appeared very common. Objectivity took the last position, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

When asked to “estimate the criterion of conscience, objectivity, bias in your media,” journalists of two official newspapers - “Homelskaya Prauda” and “Homelskiye Vedomosti” - as well as journalists of regional radio and television, put bias second.

Journalists of the independent media also find bias in their work, but in a minor amount.