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We remind you that PPEM published an open letter on its official Facebook page on 13 March 2018, calling on TV8, Jurnal TV, Unimedia journalists to even out the statements concerning Iurie Leanca (Deputy Prime Minister) so as to provide accurate information to the audience’. Apparently, party members were bothered by the fact that in the background of the news featuring them ‘Iurie Leanca almost always is critically labeled with the (collective!) decision taken during his mandate as Prime Minister to grant State guarantees to the three decapitalized banks.’ The same letter contains information and details for an alternative background that would cast the politician in a favourable light.
Such an attitude might be qualified as an interference in the journalistic work, an attempt to put pressure on journalists. We highlight that the role of the media is to keep watch over the matters of public interest and inform the audience thereof; while the Law on Freedom of Expression (Article 9) stipulates that ‘persons exercising public functions may be subject to criticism’. Note that media outlets have their own self-regulation body – the Press Council. Persons who believe that a certain press material violated their rights may either contact the Press
Council or settle the situation by discussing with the representatives of media publishers.
We urge the political parties to not interfere in the work of media outlets and let journalists do their job without external interventions.
Independent Journalism Center
Association of Independent Press
Association of Electronic Press
Center for Investigative Journalism
Press Freedom Committee
Association of Independent TV Journalists
‘Access-info’ Center
