A journalist that does not behave solidarily risks to remain… solitary

Gheorghe BUDEANU
Journalist, member of the Writers’ Union

 

After the January 7, 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris, when 12 people were killed, 10 of which were journalists, the media representatives of the most of the civilized countries mobilized massively in solidarity with the employees of this weekly satirical magazine.  

The case with Charlie Hebdo determined many of our colleagues to launch solidarity appeals – a feeling that was shadowed by the political and ethnical intrigues in our country lately. Gazetteers as a social group have specific interests, as well as a common responsibility. This should call them to reciprocal support and prioritize their fellowship, in the light of their role of guardians of truth and democracy. But the realities in our society represent a geopolitical net, where journalists struggle and have antagonist interests. One of the reasons is that journalists are divided by ethnical groups and engage in promoting different geopolitical interests: Moldovans, Romanians, Russians, Ukrainians, Gagauz… Engaged in a fight against or for the Russian imperial interests, a solidarity relation between these groups is almost impossible. One cannot be solidary with a peer promoting enemy interests against their own national and democratic principles.

Geopolitical engagements caused Russian-speaking journalists to have no reaction in cases like the political attack of the Peoples’ Christian Democratic Party against PRO TV, the attack of a group of aggressive priests of the Moldovan Metropolitan Church against the editorial office of TIMPUL or the maltreatment of journalist Alina Anghel. However, a relevant example of professional solidarity were the manifestations of all the categories of journalists that requested freedom for Ernest Vardanean detained by the separatist regime of Tiraspol. During the same time, journalists from Teleradio-Moldova who raised to defend their professional rights, including the right to freedom of expression, were supported by their peers. 

Unfortunately, the democratic parties that currently govern the country took over lately the communist practice of subordinating the press, with the aim to serve their political and oligarchic interests. Journalists divided in isolated cartel, geopolitical or party groups. Defending cartel interests, the respective groups of journalists lost any sense of solidarity and are even at feud with each other.
 
Journalists’ unity as a social group was manifested 10-15 years ago by the Journalists’ Union. Organised within such union, the media representatives used to manifest their solidarity, participate in different manifestations meant to protect their interests, react in the event any peer was pushed away from the media carriageway. It has been several years since our profession lost its union. Today, the Journalists’ Union has its door sealed due to its failure to pay the rent. 

Media NGOs overtook some of the Journalist Union missions. Promotion journalists’ image, supporting journalists in trials, organisation of manifestations defending freedom of expression and professional solidarity, the annual Journalist awards gala etc. are just some of the best known activities organised by the Independent Journalism Centre, Press Freedom Committee, Association of independent press, Association of electronic press, Journalistic  Investigations Centre, “Acces-Info” centre…    
 
The symbolic apples provided annually within the Journalist awards gala are shadowed by the discord apple politicians throw amid Moldovan gazetteers. I believe it appropriate that, as long as the Journalist Union is closed, a permanent media club was launched with only the aim to discuss issued related to journalists solidarity. Discussions should be attended by journalists representing all the ethnic groups, political parties and oligarchic groups to discuss and find compromises in issues that separate us, as well as to set some principles of reciprocal aid and common responsibility for what we do.

The article was published within the Advocacy Campaigns Aimed at Improving Transparency of Media Ownership, Access to Information and promotion of EU values  and integration project, implemented by the IJC, which is, in its turn, part of the Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society project, implemented by FHI 360.
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The content are the responsibility of author and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.