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Рy02 May 2017
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The Ziarul de Garda newspaper organized on Tuesday, May 2, a debate on access to information in Moldova with the following title: "Free Press, Isolated from Information?" The event was attended by civil society representatives, journalists, representatives of state institutions, etc. As a symbol of restricted access of journalists to information, a "cage" was installed in the hall.
The newspaper’s editor-in-chief Aneta Grosu, who acted as moderator, mentioned that the topic of the discussion is highly relevant today, given that reporters, especially those who do investigations, face big problems in attempts to obtain information of public interest. "I am not sure if our journalists feel as free as they would like to," the journalist said.
Participants in the debate spoke about their experience of collaboration between state institutions and the media. If they fail to get data of public interest, some journalists prefer to go to court, but according to lawyer Tatiana Puiu, who many times defended journalists' interests, "going to court is not a solution, unfortunately, because after years-long legal proceedings the information of public interest loses its relevance." In support of the above, Ziarul de Garda presented a video titled "You don't have the right!", about how many days it takes a reporter to get information of public interest, how many letters they need to send to get some data for the material they write, how closed are public officials when journalists ask for an opinion or for information, etc.
The debate was attended by representatives of the press services of state institutions. They suggested the journalists to write more about the work of ministries, especially about the positive work they do. "Unfortunately, I had situations when people from the media called me and told to stop e-mailing them press releases because they were no longer interested," noted Ecaterina Grigorean, press-officer of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction.
Journalists are not satisfied with the relations they have with central authorities, which often offer incomplete information and demand requesting for information in writing. In sign of disagreement with such requirements, the organizers of the event came up with the initiative to send 400 written requests to the addresses of central public authorities, including state-owned enterprises. "Thus we want to satisfy, finally, the public institutions’ desire for letters and written requests for information from journalists", said Alina Radu, director of Ziarul de Garda.
The newspaper’s editor-in-chief Aneta Grosu, who acted as moderator, mentioned that the topic of the discussion is highly relevant today, given that reporters, especially those who do investigations, face big problems in attempts to obtain information of public interest. "I am not sure if our journalists feel as free as they would like to," the journalist said.
Participants in the debate spoke about their experience of collaboration between state institutions and the media. If they fail to get data of public interest, some journalists prefer to go to court, but according to lawyer Tatiana Puiu, who many times defended journalists' interests, "going to court is not a solution, unfortunately, because after years-long legal proceedings the information of public interest loses its relevance." In support of the above, Ziarul de Garda presented a video titled "You don't have the right!", about how many days it takes a reporter to get information of public interest, how many letters they need to send to get some data for the material they write, how closed are public officials when journalists ask for an opinion or for information, etc.
The debate was attended by representatives of the press services of state institutions. They suggested the journalists to write more about the work of ministries, especially about the positive work they do. "Unfortunately, I had situations when people from the media called me and told to stop e-mailing them press releases because they were no longer interested," noted Ecaterina Grigorean, press-officer of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction.
Journalists are not satisfied with the relations they have with central authorities, which often offer incomplete information and demand requesting for information in writing. In sign of disagreement with such requirements, the organizers of the event came up with the initiative to send 400 written requests to the addresses of central public authorities, including state-owned enterprises. "Thus we want to satisfy, finally, the public institutions’ desire for letters and written requests for information from journalists", said Alina Radu, director of Ziarul de Garda.
Photo source: www.facebook.com/ConstantinGrigorita
