Jakarta – The ruling Democratic Party was the political party with the most media coverage from January to April this year in a total of five national newspapers, a recent survey has announced.

According to the recent study conducted by the Center for Media and Journalism, Democratic Party-linked issues were covered in a total of 559 news items, or 47.2 percent, during the first four months of 2012, principally due to stories about convicted former party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin.

"News about the Nazaruddin case basically dominated the media during the four-month period," center researcher Sinansari Ecip said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Nazaruddin is an infamous graft convict who has been linked to numerous cases that are currently being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Sinansari added that media coverage over the Nazaruddin saga reached its peak in February with a total of 111 news items, or 43 percent of the 259 news items relating to the Democratic Party.

The five national newspapers that were studied by the center were Kompas, Koran Tempo, Media Indonesia, Republika and Seputar Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Golkar Party came in second place with a total of 160 news items, or 13.5 percent, followed by the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) with 110 news items (9.3 percent).

The main opposition party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), reached fourth place with 80 news items or 6.8 percent, while the Nasdem Party, owned by former Golkar politician Surya Paloh, who also owns the Media Group, came in fifth with 64 news items (5.4 percent). (asa)