Other media monitoring body wants GTV's President's programme axed Kudos for Capitol News Stabroek News March 3, 2001 The Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) in its third report gives more kicks and kisses to Guyana's television newscasts. For GTV's Six o'clock News the MMU notes an "improvement in the previously mentioned practice of inserting opinion into newscasts". But it concurs with the Independent Media Monitoring and Refereeing panel that the programme `This Week with the President' "should be discontinued during the campaign period". "We have also noticed the proliferation of a variety of other programming dedicated to various government ministries, activities and plans." Prime News is accused of sucking up to the Election Commission "with over three times as much positive as negative portrayals". Capitol News on Channel 7 is given a big gold star for offering coverage to a wide variety of parties. "They deserve credit for their Nomination Day coverage, which offered a comprehensive view of all the presidential candidates." But the MTV "News Update" remains in the dog house as it continues to give a large amount of positive coverage to the government ...." The MMU gives a January 30 example "where a News Update story about the PPP/C launching included an entire PPP/C political advertisement". In general the MMU is gladdened "that we have also noticed some significant improvement in the attempts by some of the news outlets to seek responses from sources with different perspectives. We applaud this effort and hope it continues and improves". The MMU is attached to the Elections Commission and is mandated to cover all election-related news in the print and broadcast media. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today If you do not see the 'Guyana: Land of Six Peoples' drop-down menu on the left then please click here to enter through the front door which will give you additional options and information.