Thread: Coverage of the parties on television news

The IPPR's data on television coverage of parties seems to be raising eyebrows although the trend described (82 percent for Swapo and 18 percent for the opposition) is fairly obvious to anyone who watches NBC TV news regularly. The big question is: does this reveal an inherent bias on the part of the national broadcaster or is Swapo's dominance due to the fact that the ruling party is organising a large number of rallies and public meetings while the opposition appears to organise few rallies, press conferences or other media-oriented events? What do you think?

Let's not beat around the bush. It's pretty obious even to a casual observer that there is inherent bias - always has been. The NBC is a state broadcaster and does not have editorial independence even if that is claimed. NBC staff is hardly going to bite the hand that feeds it. Given limited resources such as cameras and journalists, NBC managers will always prioritise coverage of SWAPO Party events and rallies at the expense of smaller parties. The number of SWAPO Party rallies should have no bearing on the amount of coverage all the parties get. The editorial aim should be to inform Namibians in a neutral and independent way about the political choices that Namibians have, and that is clearly not the case.

maybe parties must do better public relations excercises and lobby NBC stronger? maybe they build stronger relationships with NBC reporters and people? why only cry? NBC people are human beings too.

You say there is inherent bias in NBC to SWAPO Party! Can you prove that?

Interesting debate. It is indeed true SWAPO through it's majority vote and access to state funds, that they would have more resources to have more rally activities than the minority parties. It is in fact also true that NBC is state funded as well as with tax payer monies, which in the essence is decided by the majority party through it's finance ministry how tax funds are spended, hence that NBC would not bite the hand that feeds it. It is also simple logic to conclude that it is easy for such broadcaster to display biase in favor of the ruling party......

no proofs needed, just suffices to watch NBC!!! that is proof enough as per my understanding. Else NBC has the liberty to come forward and convience its taxpayers of diverse political interests, why it disagrees with a clear public perception, cemented with research by relevant stakeholders!!