Journalists covering Social Topics believe that the Media can do more to promote disadvantaged Persons

Sorina Obreja: “When journalists point at a problem, it little by little gets solved”

Journalist Sorina Obreja is the face of the “Dăruiești și câștigi” (“Give and Win”) campaign, launched in 2008 by Pro TV Chisinau newscast under the title “PROvestea de Craciun” (PRO Christmas tale). Over the years, hundreds of people received material aid from the campaign, and donations exceeded 5 million lei. In December 2015, at journalists’ awards gala “Dăruiești și câștigi” obtained a special prize, having been designated as the best social campaign.

“The press has a huge power to change things. A correctly covered topic, when you call things by their proper names and clearly formulate its purpose, can influence the attitude of authorities. In fact, the press can change society’s opinion and the way it treats people from disadvantaged categories. I believe that their rights can be best promoted through the prism of the problems that they deal with. When journalists point at a problem, it little by little gets solved. I believe that it is useless for the press to present informative and dry materials about rights that look like press releases. The press must press on the wound to see where it hurts the most, so that authorities are forced to find proper treatment. And for that journalists need to identify as many as possible cases and persons that are part of disadvantaged categories and, through them, show the actual situation in Moldova. Moreover, my experience made me realize that society reacts before authorities do. A material about a poor family can change that family’s life, because hundreds of people who see the story will want to help. Also, a material about a child with disabilities who is humiliated or not accepted in school, for example, can change the attitude of the people around him and of those who are in a similar situation.”

Ecaterina Terzi: “People with special needs need the help of the press so as not to shrink into themselves and their problems.”

Ecaterina Terzi is reporter for the public broadcaster Teleradio-Moldova in Gagauzia, and at the Journalists Award Gala of 2015 she obtained a special award for promotion of diversity in mass media. The topic most often approached by the journalist is gender equality and the life of women in Gagauzia, their occupations, problems, etc.

“The role of journalists in promotion of disadvantaged people is important. First, because journalists as public persons know very many people and, in their turn, are known by people. Those who need help can appeal to them as to someone they can trust (in my experience there were many such cases). A journalist or publication (TV, radio, newspaper, information portal, etc.), using the information they have, the sources they know, can help in solving the problems of persons with special needs. In this sense, beneficial are such information programs as talk shows and other TV and radio programs, where questions can be asked and answered, and solutions can be found to worrying issues. People with special needs need the help of the press so as not to shrink into themselves and their problems. And we, who have information, could help them by informing about them and promoting their rights.”

Polina Cupcea: “Half a million Moldovans live in poverty. 500 thousand articles about every one of them would be a step forward!”

Polina Cupcea is a freelance journalist. She worked in several media outlets, where she wrote about people with a sad destiny – former convicts, to whom the state cannot offer a job or who are despised by society, even if they served their sentence; children abandoned when their parents went to work abroad. For the coverage of social topics, in 2014 the Young Journalist Center of Moldova issued to her an award in the print media category.

“As Titu Maiorescu said, “Write, folks, just write!” Paraphrasing, I would say that only thus journalists could contribute to better promotion of the rights of the disadvantaged – by writing. Presenting their problems, raising alarm when their rights are violated, promoting their success stories. Because it is quite a numerous category. According to some studies, half a million Moldovans live in poverty. So 500 thousand articles about every one of them would be a step forward!
Then, we also have people with disabilities, who we remember at Christmas, Easter, or when NGOs present reports and studies. I’m not sure we can change anything at this rate. Of course, you cannot air the entire day news stories about poverty, disability, violation of rights, but I believe it is in a journalist’s nature to have the skill to cover this topic by using different approaches. What is more, we have tons of information on the topic, but it is, unfortunately, diluted by political gossip. It is perhaps the disability of journalists and journalism at this moment…”

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The “Combating Discrimination by Promoting Good Practices, Involving Citizens and Raising Media Accountability” project is being implemented with the help of “Supporting National Human Rights Institutions according to recommendations of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies and Universal Periodic Review (UPR)” project funded by the Ministry of External Affairs of Norway, co-funded and implemented by UNDP Moldova and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in cooperation with the Office of People’s Advocate (Ombudsman) and the Council for Equality.