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The event was attended by MPs, diplomats, journalists and representatives of the civil society. A number of Lithuanian experts and officials were invited to share their experience in combating Russian propaganda through mass media and ways of ensuring information security in their country.
Conference guest, His Excellency US Ambassador in Moldova James Pettit declared: “The message of the United States is: A strong democracy needs independent press. Plurality of sources unaffected by business or personal interests implies that all voices should be heard.”
The American diplomat pointed out certain phenomena that persist among Moldovan media: concentration of media property in the hands of a small number of people, influence of foreign press and manipulation from outside.
Vice-president of the Parliament Vladimir Vitiuc, who opened the conference, mentioned, among other things, that the main problem faced by Moldova in the area of information space security is lack of an adequate legal framework.
The Moldovan Minister of External Affairs and European Integration Andrei Galbur and his Lithuanian colleague Linas Linkevičius spoke about the need to protect press freedom and discussed the challenges of ex-soviet countries.
Mr. Galbur acknowledged that foreign propaganda which results in the country being invaded by fake news and manipulating materials is a serious problem for Moldova, as it backs up governmental schemes. “Unfortunately, we have no agreements or internationally agreed standards for combating propaganda and disinformation. It is often difficult to make a qualified distinction between propaganda and journalism,” the minister admitted, considering that the Baltic countries’ experience in fighting foreign propaganda could be relevant for us.
In his turn, the Lithuanian foreign minister Linas Linkevičius underlined that nowadays information from and its dissemination by Kremlin propagandists may be compared to a weapon and should be treated as such: “During conventional wars there were artillery attacks; nowadays there are different ways to brainwash people,” Linkevičius pointed out. In his opinion alternative media sources are needed to allow citizens access to several viewpoints on reality. “We shouldn’t get involved in propaganda. We need to provide alternative information,” Linas Linkevičius explained.
In his speech, Silvio Gonzato, Director for Strategic Communications, Parliamentary and Legal Affairs at the European External Action Service (EEAS), the foreign ministry and diplomatic corps for the European Union, mentioned: „The EU is well aware of the difficult situation of independent media in the Republic of Moldova and we try to help with different activities: trainings for journalists in Chisinau and in the region, support for the production and sharing of content, and it’s great to see that regional TV channels in Moldova have started to take part in this content exchange, and through the European Endowment for Democracy, an independent institute which is funded by the EU and by EU member states, we also pass on different types of funding for independent media in Moldova. But we know that this is not enough, and this is why we are currently preparing another program in Moldova specifically designed to help independent media in Moldova produce high-quality content and we will do so in coordination with other donors here in Moldova. But again, it is primarily the responsibility of Moldova to create the conditions for an independent, professional and pluralistic media environment. And here I come to the current situation in the audiovisual sector, which is for us in the EU a source of great concern. The concentration of media ownership, the monopolisation of the advertisement market, and the sub-optimal legislative framework and the overall lack of fair competition unfortunately put at risk both the plurality and the quality of information”.
Corina Cepoi, Internews Chief of Party in Moldova, referred to the project her organization would be implementing in Moldova in the following five years – “Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova” (Media-M). Specifically, Ms. Cepoi underlined, the project is intended to help improve media legislation, provide long-term assistance to independent media outlets and support certain media literacy related activities.
Several conference participants mentioned the necessity to raise the level of media consumer culture. Nadine Gogu, Executive Director of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), shared the experience of her media organization that has been preoccupied with media literacy of students for years and launched, on 1 September this year, a pilot project in ten schools. Ms. Gogu mentioned that the Ministry of Education showed willingness to introduce these subjects in the general curriculum as school electives.
Another participant in the event, expert Vlad Turcanu, pointed out that Moldovan press has not yet managed to embrace European media standards and that there are certain weak points pertaining to information security. “We are talking about evident weaknesses in the autonomous regulator called the Broadcasting Coordinating Council.” Mr. Turcanu states that the BCC often fails to show relevant initiatives and seems to obey the power.
The event was held by the Parliament of Moldova jointly with Freedom House and Internews representative office in Moldova.
