The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) and the Press Freedom Committee (PFC) organized on December 14 in Chisinau the Annual Awards Gala of the Press Club. At this 23^rd edition of the event, the best journalists of 2017 were named. The winners of this year’s competition were: journalist Elena Cioina of Sanatate Info (www.e-sanatate.md) for best editorial; the newspaper Ziarul de Garda and the journalist Iurie Sanduta of RISE Moldova for best investigations; Liuba Sevciuc of RISE Moldova and Alexandru Popescu of Radio Free Europe for best TV reports; Natalia Petrusevici of the newspaper SP for best print report; the portal Newsmaker for best multimedia longread; Andrei Moraru of the project People and Kilometers for best photography. The jury also gave special prizes – Debut of the Year (the project People and Kilometers); Development of the Year (the portal Diez); Hope of the Year (Svetlana Gore of TVR Moldova); Best Blog (Elena Robu, www.elenarobu.md); Responsible Journalism and Reporting on System Problems (Alina Radu of Ziarul de Garda); Innovative Journalism (RISE Moldova, platform RISE Leaks). The Best Journalists of the Year Awards Gala is regularly organized since 1995 as part of the Chisinau Press Club, aiming to strengthen professional journalism and quality in the media.

Victog Mosneag, a reporter of the newspaper Ziarul de Garda, has been named the best investigative journalist in South East Europe in a contest organized by SEEMO and CEI. The contest is held annually, and it offers only two awards in two categories: Professional Journalists and Young Professional Journalists. The CEI SEEMO jury in its decision says that the prize was awarded to Victor Mosneag “for his excellent work on reporting corruption, transparency and rule of law issues in Moldova.”

Media experts from the parliamentary working group created for improving media legislation presented on December 19 the draft concept of the national media development policy. Transition from the category of countries with partly free media to the category of countries with free media by 2025 is one of the main objectives stipulated in this document. Among other things, the concept provides for the need to introduce the definition of online media and to have them regulated. The provisions of the concept are to be realized in two stages: the first by 2020, and the second by 2025.

Media organizations, including the Independent Journalism Center, have condemned intimidation of the journalist Vadim Sterbate by a former employee of the Soroca City Police Inspectorate. After the journalist published photos related to illegal parking facilities in Soroca in the regional newspaper Observatorul de Nord, a former policeman commented on a social networking website: “You didn’t get punched when you should have, and now you’re going out of your mind.” Media NGOs reminded that the rights of journalists in Moldova are protected by law and asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Prosecutor’s Office to investigate this case without delay.

The Independent Journalism Center and four other media NGOs signed a declaration, expressing their concern about the statements of Prime Minister Pavel Filip that “…I don’t find that those who come with attacks – media outlets and political groups of the so-called opposition – are enemies of the government; I find them enemies of modernization of Moldova and, first of all, of its citizens.” Media NGOs qualified this statement as insinuation and veiled accusations, which “contribute to radicalization of public discourse and to discrediting the journalists who do their job professionally in order to ensure proper functioning of a democratic country.”

Media NGOs have signed a declaration, condemning the improper behavior of some public employees who under various pretexts restrict journalists’ access to information and resort to intimidation against them. Thus, a journalist of the investigative publication Ziarul de Garda was treated roughly at the Centru district administration office in Chisinau by one of its employees. The journalist, who was investigating a story of illegal enrichment, was forced out of the office by an employee, although several official requests for information had been filed earlier, including a request for an interview. Media NGOs appealed to Chisinau Mayor’s Office to investigate this incident and to inform the public about the measures taken.

The photojournalist Constantin Grigorita was not allowed to attend a conference of Moldovan President Igor Dodon, again. He protested in front of the State Residence alone on December 12, the day of the conference, against the attitude of the presidential administration, which does not allow him to participate in the events it organizes. Asked by a Pro TV Chisinau journalist why the photojournalist is not allowed to attend the events organized by the presidential administration, Igor Dodon said that he is not responsible for granting accreditations. This October the photojournalist filed a lawsuit against the presidential administration and President Dodon for restriction of access to information.

Stela Grigoras, Minister of Health, Labor, and Social Protection, issued an order on November 20, demanding the institutions subordinated to the ministry to coordinate with the Service of Information and Communication with Media all invitations to programs and to interviews, according to e-sănătate.md, which also published a photo of the order (the document itself was not posted on the ministry’s official website). A similar document, regarding coordination with the Mayor’s Office Press Service, has recently been issued by Silvia Radu, Interim Mayor of Chisinau. Media experts warn that such orders might be applied with ill will and used against journalists.

At the beginning of December, a group of journalists filed a joint request for an interview with ex-Prime Minister Vlad Filat, detained in Penitentiary no. 13. Journalists motivated their request by the fact that Vlad Filat used to hold important offices in the country and has been sentenced for corruption and influence peddling by a final and irrevocable court judgment. On December 14, 2017, through a letter signed by Aureliu Suhan, interim director of the Department of Penitentiaries, journalists were informed that they will not be allowed the interview without the agreement of the court or of prosecution.

POB Survey: People Trust Television the Most
Television is still the most important source of information, and it is trusted by Moldovan citizens the most, according to the Public Opinion Barometer (POB). Survey results were presented on December 14 by the Institute of Public Policies. According to the survey, about 70% of respondents watch television daily, including online. The Internet comes second, with 50% of respondents. Radio is third in this ranking, with a score of about 28%. Newspapers and books (including online publications) are read daily by about 7% of respondents.

The Independent Journalism Center has launched at a press conference the National Study on Media Audience in Moldova, produced in October 2017. The study provides data about the audience of TV and radio stations and publications in Moldova in urban and rural localities. The paper identified the information resources that are read/listened to/watched the most often by the public and the credibility of their media production. The study is available HERE.

The Parliament Voted on the Law on Combating Foreign Propaganda
On December 7, the Parliament approved in final reading a draft law that allows broadcasters to transmit foreign informative, analytical, military, and political programs produced by the Member States of the European Union, the USA, Canada, and by the countries that ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. According to the document, the Broadcasting Code is to be supplemented with a new notion, “information security,” which involves “measures to ensure protection of people, society, and the state from possible attempts to disinformation and/or manipulation from abroad and non-admission of media provocation targeted against Moldova.”

Draft Law: Use of Drones
The National Center for Personal Data Protection (NCPDP) prepared a draft law that establishes the manner in which video tools are to be used. According to the document, the use of video instruments (devices and/or video software) from the category of drones, aerostats, or other technical and/or electronic devices will be prohibited in localities. However, the Center provided for exceptions in the use of drones, including for journalistic purposes. The draft law is currently at the stage of public consultations.

Media Experts: Implementation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement Needs to Be Sped Up
The actions provided in the National Action Plan (NAP) for September-November 2017 in the segment of mass media are insufficient, as they concern only broadcasting and are not in full compliance with the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. It is one of the conclusions of the NAP monitoring report, presented by the media experts of the Association of Independent Press on December 20, 2017. The report also contains recommendations to authorities responsible for this field. Experts recommended the NAP to be reviewed and supplemented in the part concerning the media, so the following actions are in compliance with the Association Agreement.

The U.S. Ambassador Urged Moldovan Authorities to Adopt a New Broadcasting Code As Soon As Possible
U.S. Ambassador to Moldova James D. Pettit urged Moldovan authorities to adopt, as soon as possible, a new broadcasting code that would be in compliance with the standards of the European Union. This appeal was made at a conference organized by the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) on December 15. The ambassador also mentioned that Moldova should fight external and internal propaganda more efficiently and that fight against propaganda cannot be used as a pretext for closing alternative voices.

The BCC Warned the TV Stations that Failed to Adapt their Audiovisual Services to the Needs of People with Hearing and Visual Impairments
At the meeting of December 19, members of the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) have drawn the attention of TV stations to the need to comply with the obligations regarding access of people with hearing and visual impairments to audiovisual program services. The BCC decided to only give a warning, motivating their decision by the fact that it was the first monitoring of this kind. They also pointed out that there are not enough specialists in sign language in Moldova.

Fines of Dozens Thousand Lei to TV Stations that Failed to Ensure Balanced Coverage of the Referendum Campaign
The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) has sanctioned in a public meeting the television stations Accent TV and NTV Moldova with a fine of MDL 10 thousand (EUR 491) and RTR Moldova with a fine of MDL 5,000 (EUR 245.5). This decision was made after the examination of the second report on monitoring the referendum campaign. The fines were applied for failure to comply with the principle of pluralism of sources and for the fact that the above stations did not ensure responsible, balanced, and impartial coverage of the campaign for the local referendum on dismissing Dorin Chirtoaca from the office of General Mayor of Chisinau municipality, which took place on November 19, 2017.

The BCC Approved the Transfer of TV8 Station Broadcast License
At the meeting of December 14, the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) approved the request to transfer the broadcast license of the TV8 television station from the company Analytic Media Grup to the public association Media Alternativa. The representatives of TV8 believe that this decision would not have been possible if this situation had not reached the attention of development partners. The BCC had previously several times postponed the approval of the request to transfer the TV8 broadcast license from Analitic Media Grup to Media Alternativa, because some organizations specialized in copyright protection filed lawsuits against the company that still manages the television station.

Internews Helps Local Media in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to Build New Websites
Internews offers free solutions to the media for building new websites. News Templ has been conceived to improve the online presence of the media outlets that have limited financial resources in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. News Templ will help local media to adopt innovative formats of online journalism, involving the public and attracting new audience. Internews partners in this initiative are the Independent Journalism Center of Moldova, Internews Ukraine, and Internews Georgia.

The Independent Journalism Center Trained Journalists in Fact Checking
On December 2 and 3, fourteen journalists and NGO representatives were trained in fact checking and data processing. Experts in this field – Cristina Lupu of the Independent Journalism Center from Bucharest and reporter Mariana Rata of Anticoruptie.md – told participants about the sources of open data and fact checking that exist in Moldova. The practical aspects learned by participants include the use of open data tools to produce journalistic materials and to integrate data journalism into various types of media, and how the public can be engaged into the checking of data.

Media Freedom Matters: Financial Support to Advocacy, Education, and Outreach Initiatives for Media in Moldova
Freedom House, in collaboration with the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, invites applications for funding and support from local, registered non-governmental organizations and coalitions that seek to raise awareness about press freedom, freedom of expression, and independent media in the Republic of Moldova.

“Divided by Two”: Equal Chances in Elections for Men and Women
How equal possibilities can be created for men and women in elections, what electoral contestants should do to abide by the principle of equal opportunities, especially in the new electoral system, and what sanctions might be applied to electoral contestants if they fail to ensure balanced gender representation in elections – these issues are discussed by the participants of the “Divided by Two” program in the December edition. The second episode of the program tried to answer the question of equality of men and women in front of God. Participants discussed some religious practices that favor women’s inferiority to men and how they could be changed.

Beginning on October 1, broadcasters in Moldova must air at least eight hours of domestic production, including six hours in prime time and four hours in the Romanian language. How do broadcasters comply with these new legal provisions? This was the topic discussed in the 63^rd edition of the “Media Azi” [Media Today] show by Nadine Gogu, executive director of the Independent Journalism Center, who acted as host of the show, and her guests – Dragos Vicol, chairman of the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC), and Ion Bunduchi, executive director of the Electronic Press Association. The 64^th edition of “Media Azi” focused on bilingualism in Moldovan media. Journalist Ivan Sveatcenko, host of the show, made an analysis of this topic, discussing the specificity of Romanian and Russian speaking public with his guest, journalist Alina Radu, director of the newspaper Ziarul de Garda.