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More than 40 managers from various regional media outlets met in Chisinau last week to jointly identify solutions to the economic, financial and editorial issues they face.
Tudor Iascenco, head of the ‘Cuvantul’ regional newspaper of Rezina, noted that certain local public administrations limit access to information. He also mentioned the increase in newspapers’ printing and dissemination costs, which negatively affects the financial situation of regional editorial offices.
API Executive Director Petru Macovei referred to the phenomenon of politicization of media outlets (including local ones). Expert thinks that the politicians have become aware of the power the internet has and start progressively using it to manipulate people. The media expert also emphasised the importance of maintaining the quality of journalism by organising several training programs for local media journalists.
Ludmila Topal, Executive Director of Canal Regional, mentioned that local media outlets survive mainly thanks to grants obtained from various projects (about 60% of earnings); video services (25%) and social advertising (18%), which mostly comes from the NGOs. Topal believes that state institutions could support regional media by paying the costs of advertising that local TV channels are currently broadcasting for free.
The Executive Director of the Electronic Press Association (APEL) Ion Bunduchi underlined that in the developed countries authorities come with public policies when local media face problems. The expert also referred to the fact that single-member districts in the Republic of Moldova were created with no regard for the citizens’ access to information. ‘Certain districts lack media outlets. How can voters obtain information in a situation when at least 11 districts have no newspapers, no radio, no TV? How can we have free and fair elections and well-informed and conscious votes?’ Bunduchi asked.
For another thing, the expert believes that the legislation should provide for special regulations for local media outlets, which can not compete with the national TV channels on equal terms.
The liberal MP Lilian Carp has participated in the event as well. He agreed with the journalists’ findings about the state of the local press. According to the MP, some of the problems can be solved by concluding contracts between the local public authorities and local media outlets, provided that the latter would not interfere in the editorial policies.
