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On Sunday, the regional weekly “Observatorul de Nord” marked 15 years since its release; at the time, Soroca was a county, and the editor-in-chief and one of the founders of the newspaper, Victor Cobasneanu recall those days with nostalgia. “There were bigger opportunities. Soroca county comprised four or five districts. They were an administration, a prefecture. Readership was more concentrated”, Cobasneanu says. Subsequently, former district newspapers were transformed into party newspapers, Cobasneanu adds. Read about the relationship between the media and politics, problems in the local press and multifunctionality of the newspaper in the interview below, conducted by Media Azi team.
MA: What is the history of the release of the newspaper Observatorul de Nord and how many readers do you have today?
Victor Cobasneanu: Observatorul de Nord is a “production” which definitely belongs to me. It is an independent regional newspaper, which is published since November 3, 1998, in Romanian and Russian languages, in format 16 of A4 sheet. It appeared when we had electricity only a few hours a day, still the newspaper would appear without fail - even when, in 2000, we had no electricity for some weeks in Soroca due to frost.
The circulation increased from 200 copies when appeared to about 8.000 copies per week at present. The vast majority is in Romanian language - about 6.000 copies. We started with eight pages, and now the number of pages is 16 or 24 during election periods. We have three creative workers - Nina Neculce, Tatiana Mitrofan-Zabulica and me, and also six technical workers. The newspaper is spread in several districts of the country and anyone can subscribe at any post office. We are also the members of the Independent Press Association (IPA).
MA: To what extent do you think the local press is free and independent?
VC: Local press is independent and free to the extent to which it wishes. I don’t support those who always complain that they don’t have freedom and independence. In my opinion, freedom and independence are not received and should not be begged, they should be gained through labor, devotion, verticality and on time. We are mainly dependent on “the readers’ Majesty”, whose number is decreasing year by year. However, we have a stable readership.
MA: Still, how much does politics influence local media?
VC: Politics influences the press, whether local or central, to the extent to which the latter allows to be influenced, used, harassed or exploited. Politics is insolent and keeps those weak under its thumb, and that’s it: no more compromises. As for me, I don’t believe in compromises and I don’t respect those who behave like servants with those who are greater and stronger. The reader detects such behaviours and, at the right moment, sometimes when your life is most precious, calls you to account. Observatorul de Nord collaborates with politics only through agreements signed by the parties, although, as people, each of us has his/her own political option.
MA: In your opinion, what problems does the press face today?
VC: Indifference of people who not really want to read newspapers, preferring to sit in front of the TV set. A serious problem is also excessive prices imposed by the Post of Moldova, which take full advantage of the role of the monopolist. Unfortunately, the state does not protect the press, as is done in other countries. There is also unfair competition, which goes hand in hand with politics - for example, some newspapers of local Councils have transformed overnight, apparently after privatization, in mass poisoning bodies of political parties.
MA: How do you think how long will the print media exist?
VC: As long as we exist. Rumors about death of the print media have no support - if the print press exists in advanced countries such as USA, Japan, Germany or Canada, why would it not exist in Moldova? Of course, we also keep pace with high society, we have the electronic version of the newspaper, which receives the attention of those left for abroad, but the classical version of the newspaper will still live for a long time. Especially considering that the written newspaper is multifunctional - after reading it, you can put it in the window to keep the sun from penetrating through the window, you can wrap a piece of bryndza, you can build a fire and you can kill a fly after all ...
Photo source: www.voceabasarabiei.net
