State media journalists admit bias

• 30.10.2007, 11:15

An anonymous survey has been held recently in Gomel among journalists. About 20 per cent of the journalists who work in the Gomel 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.

The first place was occupied by lack of informativity and precision. 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 - “Gomelskaya Prauda” and “Gomelskiye 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.