September 24 - October 24, 2008
RATINGS
"Politicians as seen by the media" is a joint project of Vremya Novostei and Medialogia, an information analysis company. The project involves rating political personalities most often discussed in the Russian news media.
"Politicians as seen by the media" is published weekly, every Monday. Over the course of a month, readers can successively find the latest ratings of regional governors, State Duma members, Cabinet ministers, and foreign heads of state. The lists are also posted on the website www.vremya.ru.
The ratings reflect not only the monthly number of publications mentioning the specific politician, but also how favourable the media attitude was during that month. The media favour index is calculated based on the tone of the publication (positive, negative or neutral), the significance of a specific piece of news, and how influential the source is.
Medialogia's ratings are calculated by a unique online system that analyzes over 3,000 Russian open media sources including television, radio, the print media, news agencies, and online media sources.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin topped the monthly list after analysis of publications in federal print media and leading TV channels. The Prime Minister's information frame was largely shaped by the financial crisis. He scored more points with each material in central print media on bailout measures taken by the Government.
In late September, Putin said that any bank or company could apply to Vnesheconombank for a loan to refinance prior foreign loans.
His next statement that the country's long-term development programmes won't be cut or suspended brought him additional points.
Second place went to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. His rating was influenced by print and video coverage of the 63rd UN General Assembly in New York, especially Lavrov's first meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after the war in Georgia. His speech at the UN General Assembly also won him media favour.
Finally, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin was the third politician most favoured by the national media, as one of the key official fighters against the financial crisis with guaranteed media attention. Curiously, his media rating was significantly boosted by an event involving him only indirectly - the release from custody of his former deputy Sergei Storchak, who had been charged with attempted embezzlement. Although no court ruling has yet been rendered, the leading media have already interpreted the fact that Storchak was released to wait for trial at home as Kudrin's personal achievement and proof of his stable position.
