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Vitalie CALUGAREANUDeutsche Welle journalist
When we meet in the guild there, in Chisinau, we shout in chorus that there should not exist political bosses in press, that one party controls 60% of active media, that all the televisions depend on politicians and groups of interests. We lament in front of foreigners that we have problems with press freedom... That's right! Ever since I can remember myself in journalism, Moldovan politicians have done their best to control the press economically. So the first enemy of press freedom in Moldova is hunger. Before jumping on me, do a study and see who gives food to our journalists. We will be protected against political pressures when this country overcomes the consuming country status, and when we start producing, when there are established rich companies that will produce interesting things they want to sell and to advertise on TV.
Now that I spent almost a year of my life in an advertising company, I can say that the economic society should perceive the media as a partner and advertisement as an investment - not as a favor. If the press were truly supported financially, it would be independent and the political environment would have no power over it. That is because an independent journalist will only be able to write 100% balanced and fair articles when he no longer receives wages from a politically involved employer. There will only be a quality journalism and a healthier society when the press is independent. It's all about money.
So, the second enemy of a free press is the brotherhood between economic and political environment. Television is a business and should be based on the economic environment, but when the economic environment depends on the political one and vice versa, it is impossible for the television (media in general) to be independent. The funding of press institutions comes from companies that depend on the political environment. When a television is not profitable, where can the money come? From some businessmen who have political interests. How? Via advertising contracts. So this is how the press goodwill is bought in weak democracies.
And finally, the third enemy of the freedom of expression in Moldova is the journalist ... or rather journalists – those who do work as the political wind blows. The independence is a matter which primarily refers to the deontology and the ability to stay upright in a world where the values are more and more corrupted. In other words, a quality journalist is able to ignore pressure; he is the one who respects his profession, believes in deontology and does not forget his/her role – to inform the public, not to manipulate. This is why I focus on deontology. I would appreciate if you perceived my emphasis on this element as an alarm signal, because, with the development of online media, it is seen how the minimal duty of the journalist disappears. And it's terrible! In election campaigns, the world of journalism becomes crazy. Even the most balanced start to behave strangely, which is due to some commitments they are paid for.
But worse than the enemies of freedom of expression is monosponsoring. It is the "cancer" of Moldovan press. Five television stations, three of them with national coverage, controlled by one single politician, backer of one political party – this is too much. Let alone radio stations, magazines, informational portals and bloggers that he is supposedly black funding. Citizens are, practically, deprived of alternative, being subject to aggressive and permanent manipulation and misinformation campaigns. This while the Broadcasting Code guarantees, in Article 7, "Political and social balance and pluralism". The first thing in the list of obligations of the Broadcasting Coordinating Council is "monitoring of compliance with pluralist expression of ideas and opinions within the programs broadcasted by radio broadcasters under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Moldova" (Broadcasting Code, Article 41, para. 1, letter "a"). Therefore, the zombification through disinformation and manipulation is equally due both to obedient journalists and the Broadcasting Coordinating Council that is absent and politicized.
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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.
