In August the Builders Association of Russia took serious measures aimed at developing the construction industry, solving problems on the cement market, informing the Prosecutor General’s Office of the situation on the construction market, promoting international, regional relations and inter-branch relations in the financial and banking sector.  

The total number of materials (both printed and electronic) related to ASR amounted to 306 in August 2006. There are the following leaders in terms of the number of references:

- federal press: “Moskovskaya Pravda” (3), “Gazeta” (3), “Business”(2);

- news agencies: Finmarket (Financial market) (5), ITAR-TASS (3), RIA “Novosti” (News) (5);

- Area specific press: “Kvadratniy metr” (Square meter) (3), “Kvartirniy ryad” (Apartment array) (2), “Nedvizhimost i tseny” (Real estate and prices) (2);

- Internet editions: IRN.ru (Indicators of the real estate market) (10), “Kvadratniy metr. Novosti” (Square meter. News) (10), “Bolshoy portal nedvizhimosti” (Major real estate portal) (12), Advis.ru (5).

Figure 1.  

Internet editions (213) and news agencies (38) can be considered leaders in terms of the number of references. The share of regional mass media (15) is practically equal to that of the electronic versions of federal newspapers and magazines and printed versions of federal newspapers and magazines (15).

 August witnessed a great number of ASR related references on TV and on the radio (8) and in foreign mass media (2).

Figure 2: number of references

August witnessed a sharp increase in the number of ASR related references amounting to 306 (136 in July) within the framework of the information field.  It testifies to the fact that the Builders Association of Russia made efforts to retain its presence in the information field and to its serious approach to expanding its activities.   

Figure 3.

The most rapid development of the ASR information field took place in the middle of the second week of August (62 references), during the third week of August – up to 28 references. Figuratively speaking, the general situation in the information field can be called seismically active due to great information bursts testifying to ASR quick reaction to current events in the construction industry and on the real estate market. Particularly, one of such bursts occurred due to active measures taken by ASR to defend construction companies against the attacks of the Prosecutor General’s Office, which accused them of collusion. It is important to note that the number of references ranged daily from 1 to 18.

The following events resulted in the dramatic increase in the number of references:

 - Arranging a press conference dedicated to the situation on the cement market  

- Signing of an agreement with the Federal Registration Service

- Signing of a cooperation agreement with Chelyabinsk

 - ASR rebuff to Prosecutor General’s Office

Figure 4.  

More than half of the information field related to ASR is dominated by Internet editions, i.e., 70 %(59 % in July). In spite of the domination of Internet editions in the information field it is also important to note an active role played by news agencies (25 %), federal newspapers and magazines (7 %) and regional newspapers and magazines (5 %).

The unchanged share of regional newspapers and magazines and ASR related references on TV and in foreign mass media played a positive role in the information field development.

Figure 5: Mass media structure. News agencies – 12 %, TV and radio – 3 %, Federal newspapers and magazines – 7 %, Regional newspapers and magazines – 5 %, Internet editions – 70 %, Area-specific press – 3 %, foreign press (electronic versions) – 1 %. 

Analyzing the dynamics of the structure of ASR references in mass media in August it is important to note that the articles related to ASR activities dominate the information field, their number amounting to 187, which increased by 132 in comparison with July.

 At the same time one can notice an increase in the number of expanded references from 11 to 15 and an increase in the number of unexpended references from 70 to 80.

 The increase in the number of articles testifies to a greater role played by the Builders Association of Russia and the interest displayed by various mass media in cooperating with ASR.

 Figure 6: unexpanded references, comments, expanded references, articles

Conducting a qualitative analysis of ASR related publications it is necessary to note that the greatest number of ASR related references are neutral. The number of neutral publications increased by 162 in comparison with July and amounted to 235 (77 %) due to an increase in the total number of publications.

Figure 7: structure of references – Positive, Negative, Neutral

Figure 8: structure of references – Positive – 23 %, Neutral – 77 %, Negative – 0 %. 

The number of positive publications amounted to 71 in August, which is much more in comparison with July. The qualitative structure of ASR information field remained practically unchanged. 

Figure 9 : promotion of financial and inter-branch relations – 16 % , miscellaneous – 8 per cent, the issue related to inspection of construction companies – 39 %, development of the construction industry and the real estate market – 3 %, complications with Eurocement– 13 %, the national program and the Federal Law № 214 – 4 %, promotion of international and regional relations – 8 %, adoption of construction regulations and standards – 9 %.

The analysis of the structure of issues and problems whose solution is reflected in the ASR information field shows that in August the major importance was attached to the issues and events related to informing the Prosecutor General’s Office of the situation on the housing market (39 %), the situation on the cement market (13 %), promotion of financial and inter-branch relations (16 %), promotion of international and regional relations (8 %).

The analysis of comments on ASR activities testifies to the fact that N. Koshman occupies the first position among top managers in terms of quoted comments – 79 %of all cases, V. Ponomarev occupies the 2nd position – 21 %.

In their comments the above mentioned persons touched upon such issues as criteria for pricing on the housing market (79 %) and the problems of the mortgage lending market (21 %). 

Analyzing the proportion between the share of the basic issues, which were commented on, and the share of the basic issues, which were touched upon in publications it is necessary to note that both speakers and publications attached the major importance to the issue of ASR rebuff to the Prosecutor General’s Office concerning pricing on the housing market.  

Thus, improvements in the construction industry, elaboration of construction regulations and standards, as well as promotion of international and regional relations, implementation of the national housing program constitute positive trends in ASR activities.

Source: PR and Information Analysis Department of the Builders Association of Russia