Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ULAANBAATAR245
2009-08-28 00:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:  

MONGOLIA'S TOP MEDIA OUTLETS AND THEIR AFFILIATIONS

Tags:  PROP KPAL PGOV OPRC MN 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ULAANBAATAR 000245 

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HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PROP KPAL PGOV OPRC MN
SUBJECT: MONGOLIA'S TOP MEDIA OUTLETS AND THEIR AFFILIATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ULAANBAATAR 000245

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C
HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PROP KPAL PGOV OPRC MN
SUBJECT: MONGOLIA'S TOP MEDIA OUTLETS AND THEIR AFFILIATIONS


1. (U) SUMMARY. Eighteen years after independence, Mongolia's
major media outlets remain influenced by political parties and
powerful patrons. If not exactly a free press, a vibrant media
scene has nonetheless emerged from amid the tangled web of
interlocking ownership relations. Among print media, the sheer
number of papers ensures some degree of balance for educated readers
in the diversity of voices. Television remains the major medium for
reaching the masses, from the capital through the provinces, and
also offers a balance of voices across the political spectrum. The
Internet is also beginning to make headway, especially among
Mongolian youth. With penetration rates growing and access to
Internet cafes plentiful in the capital and growing in the
provinces, two leading news websites have emerged that bear
watching. Following is a rundown of the top Mongolian media outlets
with commentary on their ownership, influences and political
affiliations - all of which are well known as fact or rumor
throughout Mongolian society. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
Leading Newspapers - How the Elite Get Their News
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) Mongolia's educated, mostly urban population, while also
television watchers, read the non-tabloid newspapers during the week
when most papers are available for (relatively expensive)
subscription. Mongolian readers describe needing to read at least
two to three papers to get a balanced version of the news.
Following is a list by estimated circulation of the twelve leading
Ulaanbaatar municipal and national daily newspapers (out of an
estimated 131 papers),with commentary on their political
affiliation and ownership. Estimated circulation is as reported in
the annual "Mongolian Media Today 2009" survey published by The
Press Institute, an independent media NGO that conducts research and
trains journalists.

Odriin Sonin/Daily News
Founded in 1999.
Estimated circulation: 10,093
Claimed circulation: 15,000
Party affiliation: Democratic Party (DP).
Comment: "Daily News" is a well-respected and openly DP-supportive
paper. It is partially owned by current President Ts. Elbegdorj and

reports positively on DP activities, reaching readers in Ulaanbaatar
and throughout the aimags (provinces).

Ogloonii Sonin/Morning News
Founded in 2006.
Estimated circulation: 7,973
Claimed circulation: 6,000 - 8,000
Party affiliation: Mongolia People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP).
Comment: "Morning News" is a new Ulaanbaatar metro paper that is not
well-regarded for its content. However it is owned by the UB Print
Company which owns two of the city's most popular weeklies and is
headed by the Deputy Governor of Ulaanbaatar's most populated
district, Songino Khairkhan. The paper is aligned with former
President Enkhbayar and the MPRP.

Unooder/Today
Founded in 1996.
Estimated circulation: 7,687
Claimed circulation: 10,000 - 11,000
Party affiliation: MPRP/neutral
Comment: "Today" is considered the most neutral and one of the best
run of the national dailies operating in Mongolia. Established
immediately after the Free Press Law was passed in 1996, it was
jointly owned by Ts. Baldorj, the well-respected journalist and
writer who died two years ago, as well as former President and MPRP
member N. Bagabandi and Su. Baldold, the now deceased General
Director of the Erdenet Copper Mine. Despite a natural MPRP slant
due to ownership, the paper has managed to stay neutral, publishing
balanced commentary and criticisms of MPRP Presidential candidates.
The family business that Baldorj passed on when he died also owns
the upscale Ulaanbaatar Hotel in the capital and UB-2 Hotel in
Terelj National Park, in addition to its other news holdings: the
English weekly "The UB Post," two other Mongolian weeklies and
Channel 25. "Today" has Mongolia's only female Editor-in-Chief, Ts.
Nandintushig. She is Baldorj's daughter and is in her early 30s.

Zuuny Medee/Centennial News
Founded in 1999
Estimated circulation: 7,230
Claimed circulation: 13,000
Party affiliation: MPRP/Government
Comment: Formerly a government run newspaper, "Centennial News"

ULAANBAATA 00000245 002 OF 004


became a purely personal political organ when the Editor-in-Chief
and part-owner B. Ganbold broke with his two powerful partners,
former President Enkhbayar and current Foreign Minister S. Batbold,
leaving to form "The National Post." The paper is now owned by
Enkhbayar and his family. (NOTE: Enkhbayar's wife is the head of
Free Press, an NGO which was created in 2000 to take journalists and
owners on expensive overseas trips, which was rumored to influence
coverage of Enkhbayar in the run-up to his election in 2000. END
NOTE.)

Unen/Truth
Founded in 1920
Estimated circulation: 6,364
Claimed circulation: 4,000 - 5,000
Party affiliation: MPRP
Comment: Mongolia's first and oldest paper, the former Communist
Party organ. Before Mongolian independence, subscription for party
members was mandatory. Now subscription supposedly serves as a mark
of dedication to the MPRP. It runs mostly MPRP news and
perspectives and no longer has the status or influence it once had.
The current Editor-in-Chief is a mid-level MPRP member.

Undesnii Shuudan/The National Post
Founded in 2007
Estimated circulation: 4,567
Claimed circulation: 9,000 - 10,000
Party affiliation: DP/neutral
Comment: "The National Post" is among Ulaanbaatar's most respected
and more balanced papers. Editor-in-Chief B. Gambolt broke with his
two powerful partners at "Centennial News," former President
Enkhbayar and current Foreign Minister S. Batbold, to form his own
paper. "The National Post" does not follow either main party's
line. Gambolt took some of Mongolia's best journalists with him
when he left, paying them decent salaries.

Niigmiin Toli/Social Mirror
Founded in 2006
Estimated circulation: 3,290
Claimed circulation: 3,500 - 4,000
Party affiliation: DP
Comment: Relatively new and not very popular, "Social Mirror" is
only distributed in Ulaanbaatar.

Ardchilal/Democracy
Founded in 1990
Estimated circulation: 2,305
Claimed circulation: 3,000 - 4,000
Party affiliation: DP
Comment: One of two papers along with "News of Mongolia" owned by
the influential DP Member of Parliament and Minister of Roads,
Construction and Infrastructure, Mr. Kh. Battulga. Through his
Genco holding company, Kh. Battulga owns mining operations, the
upscale Bayangol Hotel in Ulaanbaatar, tourism companies and tourism
sites (including the 131-foot Genghis Khan statue an hour outside of
Ulaanbaatar) and TV channel C1.

Onoodriin Mongol/Mongolia Today
Founded in 2005
Estimated circulation: 1,832
Claimed circulation: 4,000 - 5,000
Party affiliation: Newspaper of the small opposition parties.
Comment: Not well known.

Ardyn Erkh/People's Right
Founded in 2005
Estimated circulation: 1,732
Claimed circulation: 3,000
Party affiliation: DP/Citizen's Will Party
Comment: Owned by Minister of Defense and DP Member of Parliament
Lu. Bold. "People's Right," despite its low circulation, is read by
officials and elite interested in knowing the inside baseball of
government news. Lu. Bold's Bodi International company also owns
www.news.mn, Mongolia's most frequently trafficked Internet news
site (see below),which lends reporting from "People's Right" added
importance.

Mongoliin Medee/News of Mongolia
Founded in 1998
Estimated circulation: 1,172
Claimed circulation: 2,000 - 3,000
Party affiliation: DP
Comment: Although low circulation, "News of Mongolia" is read mostly
by younger elite who admire its more objective reporting. Its
owner, Erdenebat, who also owns the large Erel Cement and

ULAANBAATA 00000245 003 OF 004


Construction Company, was a Member of Parliament at the time of the
paper's founding. He lost his seat in 2004 and, after losing
further influence, sold the paper in 2008. Despite its name, "News
of Mongolia" is only published and distributed in Ulaanbaatar.

Niislel Times/Capital Times
Founded in 2008.
Estimated circulation: 587
Claimed circulation: 3,000 - 6,000
Party affiliation: MPRP
Comment: Due to its recent establishment, this paper is not well
known. It reports only on city administration and Ulaanbaatar news
and is not distributed outside of the capital.

--------------
Leading National Television Broadcasters
--------------


3. (SBU) Television is the main source of information for the
majority of the population. Television licenses are difficult and
expensive to obtain, leading to a good deal of corruption,
bureaucracy and rumors surrounding ownership in the major channels.
Mongolian elites thus take a skeptical view of the news they receive
via television, although it does not stop them from watching. No
research on viewer numbers appears available, despite the 91 listed
television stations that the Press Institute reported in existence
in 2008.


4. (SBU) "MNB" (Mongolian National Broadcaster) was established in
1967 as the state-owned television station. The law on public
broadcast was passed in 2005 and MNB was rebranded as Mongolia's
public television station. The 15-member National Council
consisting of representatives from the President and Prime
Minister's offices, Parliament, NGOs and representatives from the
Mongolian Journalists' Association supposedly direct its content.
The station broadcasts political, social and financial news as well
as entertainment and children's programming nationwide. MNB has a
high viewership and is especially popular in the countryside outside
of Ulaanbaatar, serving as the main source of information for a
great deal of the population. However, the station's reputation
suffered a major blow in 2008 during the four-day state of
emergency. Viewers who tuned in for objective coverage instead
received broadcasts directed by the security services.


4. (SBU)"TV9" belongs to Media Holding Co Ltd. Responding to
popular demand, during his time as Minister of Culture, in 2003
former President N. Enkhbayar accepted TV equipment from a Japanese
Buddhist organization on behalf of Hamba Lama Choijamts of the
Gandan Monastery to establish a Buddhist television station to
counter the rising influence of Christian-oriented Eagle TV (see
below). Enkhbayar, well-known as a Buddhist supporter, seems to
have appropriated the equipment and started his own Buddhist and
MPRP-supporting station. The Board of Directors includes Foreign
Minister Su. Batbold and Member of Parliament Ts. Munkh-Orgil. The
station is generally known as "Enkhbayar's TV station."


5. (SBU) Nationwide broadcaster, "TV5," belongs to Gegeen Dalai Co.
Ltd. Allegedly, 50 percent is also controlled by a separate block
of powerful shareholders, including Kh. Badamsuren, former director
of Mongolrostsvetmet, and former Minister of Infrastructure U.
Ulambayar. It has been vigorously supportive of the MPRP,
especially during the last election.


6. (SBU) "UBS TV" is also broadcast nationwide. Before
privatization, it belonged to the Ulaanbaatar City Council. In 2004,
UBD TV signed a three-year management contract with the city
government. In 2007, Ts. Balkhjav bought UBS TV from the
Ulaanbaatar government. Balkhjav is a wealthy businessman, MPRP
member and well-known television personality and music composer.
The station is pro-MPRP.


7. (SBU) The first private TV station in Mongolia, "Channel 25" was
established by several well-known Mongolian journalists and is
broadcast nationwide. Independent Member of Parliament Z. Altai was
the director of Channel 25 until his election to Parliament in June
2008, making him Parliament's only independent member. The station
is widely watched, well-liked and well-respected for its independent
editorial content. Despite investment from the MPRP-leaning owners
of "Today" newspaper, Channel 25 slants either neutral or slightly
DP in its reporting.


8. (SBU) The Discovery Channel of Mongolia, "Bolovsrol Suvag"
(Education TV) is a private broadcaster, sponsored by the Bodi
Group, whose popularity has grown since it went national in 2008.

ULAANBAATA 00000245 004 OF 004


But as Education TV does not yet have its full broadcasting license,
its content remains controlled by the government. As a result, it
does not broadcast any news or political programming and sticks to
educational content. Its lack of a political agenda and its
documentaries on science, technology, the environment and learning
foreign languages give it a broad-base appeal, especially in rural
areas. The Bodi Group also owns "People's Right" newspaper and
leading news website, www.news.mn. Its Board of Directors includes
Member of Parliament and Minister of Defense Lu. Bold and former
Citizen's Will Party member of Parliament M. Zorigt. The
Korean-based Lotte Group provided initial financial support to the
Bodi Group.


9. (SBU) "Eagle TV" was established in 1994 by South Dakota-based
Christian organization Among, which is linked to the Church of
Latter Day Saints. It only broadcasts in Ulaanbaatar and
surrounding areas but is generally regarded as having set the
standard for best practices in Mongolian broadcast journalism,
influencing news reporting on other channels. Its news director is
an American but all journalists and on-air reporters are Mongolians.
The station is well-known for its Christian-themed programs, but
its slogan of "fast, clean, free" news has become the standard other
news programs are judged by. Eagle TV is seen as "American news"
and there is a misconception among the general public that the
station is somehow sponsored by or linked to the U.S. Embassy.

--------------
Mongolia's Two Top News Websites
--------------


10. (SBU) Online news is still in its infancy in Mongolia although
Internet access is relatively available, especially through Internet
cafes throughout Ulaanbaatar and in every town in the provinces.
However, two sites have thus far emerged as the leading sources for
Mongolia's young and well-educated readers to get their news.


11. (SBU) www.news.mn belongs to the "People's Right" newspaper and
is the most visited Mongolian website for news with 40,000 visitors
per day. According to news.mn's Editor, D. Narantuya, following the
July 1, 2008 shutdown of all television due to the state of
emergency following electoral violence, the number of visitors
reached 60,000 - 70,000 establishing it as a credible alternative
source for news. The site also translates and publishes some of its
stories in English, although there is a two to three day time lag.


12. (U) www.olloo.mn is owned by Olloo Co. Ltd, established in
spring 2004. According to the company, the website has 70,000 -
80,000 visitors a day. They are planning to establish a TV studio
and already have news and other broadcast programs streaming on
their website.


13. (SBU) COMMENT: Journalism in Mongolia still has a long way to
go to provide the public with objective and impartial news free
from pressure and the influence of political parties, special
interest groups, and influential individuals. Reporting on
political and other sensitive developments in a timely manner also
needs improvement. This point was driven home by recent comments
from an influential Mongolian Member of Parliament. He suggested
increasing the number of Mongolian journalists sent to the United
States on exchange programs so they could better understand the role
journalism plays in U.S. political dialogue and the ethical
standards to which U.S. journalists are held. END COMMENT.

MINTON