Globe International, an independent, non-partisan Mongolian NGO dedicated to freedom of expression and of the media, will conduct systematic monitoring of the media coverage of the May 24, 2009, presidential election. The monitoring which is supported by the Open Society Forum involves the last two weeks of media campaign of the candidates.

Globe International sought to evaluate mass media performance in providing objective and balanced coverage of the candidates in the news and current affairs programs. The project’s findings will be determined through a well-defined and rigorous methodology that was used for the previous monitoring of Globe International. It is not intended to support any candidate or political party, but rather the integrity of the media environment as a whole during the campaign season.

The monitoring will be conducted by a team from 11 persons; ordinary citizens and staff members who have the previous good experiences of working during the 2005 Presidential, 2008 Parliamentarian elections.

Globe International will inform in the monitoring results through three press conferences to be held during and after the campaigning. The monitoring team will produce a comprehensive report and present it to the public at a round table to be held in June 2009. Globe International has started this two-month project since May 1, 2009.