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Рy20 May 2014
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Tudor Iascenco, director of the regional newspaper Cuvantul from the town of Rezina, who has been recently elected as president of the Association of Independent Press (AIP), gave an interview to Media-azi, speaking about the challenges and problems faced by Moldovan mass media. In his opinion, the media in our country are much freer and more diverse than five years ago, but there is one big problem: a lot of media outlets are concentrated in the hands of the same owners, who “prefer the role of anonymous manipulators of public opinion”. Tudor Iascenco is, however, optimistic, and he believes that even in Moldova it is possible to develop a profitable business in mass media, without political masters and funding from obscure sources. A proof of that is the Cuvantul newspaper, which has existed for almost two decades, along with other publications that are members of the AIP.
Media-azi.md: Mr. Iascenco, you have recently been elected as president of the Association of Independent Press (AIP) of Moldova. What does this vote of confidence from the General Meeting of the AIP mean, and what are your expectations at the beginning of a two-year mandate?
Tudor Iascenco: For me, the AIP is one of the biggest and most important achievements during the 45 years of my work with the media. Thanks to the trust of my colleagues, I returned to the position of president of the Association 15 years later, during which time the AIP has matured and became one of the most influential media organizations in Moldova. It is now recognized and appreciated not only in the country, but also abroad, due to staying loyal to its statutory principles – independence from all kinds of authorities and from political formations, while still being consequent in achieving its mission of contributing to the development of professional, non-partisan and profitable mass media by increasing the professionalism of journalists, improving the quality and viability of media products, and protecting the civil and professional rights of employees of independent media outlets. The AIP has to its credit lots of important achievements, but new tasks and problems appear, which need solutions. For example, the governance program of the current coalition contains a section on the economic development of mass media. We were glad when this program was adopted. Unfortunately, it stayed at the level of good intentions, as almost nothing has been done. If our fellow professionals were more active and more united, they could have influenced the government to fulfill at least some of the objectives. Now, the AIP is working on its strategy for the upcoming years, and it will include current problems of the Moldovan media. I hope that other organizations and outlets will also engage into solving them.
Media-azi.md: What is your opinion of mass media in Moldova? To what extent are they free and independent?
Tudor Iascenco: Moldovan media are much freer today than they were five years ago. It is proven by the significant number of outlets on the media market and by the fact that all political formations have free access to these media. A certain role in this regard had the adoption of the law on denationalization of public periodicals, developed and promoted by the AIP. Another issue is the fact that central print and electronic media have recently become more financially dependent on moguls and obscure persons, who take influential positions in Moldovan politics and use mass media for their personal and group interests. The main problem is that several media outlets are concentrated in the hands of the same owners, who prefer the role of anonymous manipulators of public opinion. In this sense, the AIP can again serve as a positive model: all owners of the newspapers member of our association are known; their names can be found in the print and online versions of publications. In fact, in most cases, owners are actually the journalists working in these newspapers.
Media-azi.md: How does the fact that the Moldovan media market is prevailed by Russian televisions affect the level of press freedom?
Tudor Iascenco: The Moldovan media market is dominated by print and electronic mass media from the Russian Federation. The fact that they are many is not a bad thing. The problem is other. First, Russian newspapers and magazines create unfair competition to the local media by coming to our media market under preferential conditions. Some leaders in the government recognize this fact, but do nothing to correct the situation. And since these media are dominating, it is obvious that the greatest amount of advertising (according to some experts – over 70%) reach these very outlets. And advertising is one of the main sources for the economic development of mass media. But the greatest danger is the fact that Russian media do not inform, but manipulate public opinion, forcing on it day by day and hour by hour only the opinion of the Kremlin. It has been especially evident over the past years, when Moscow launched a very aggressive and hypocritical policy against the former Soviet republics, trying to bring them, at any price, under a new imperial rule. Today, Russian televisions, with their expansionist editorial policies supplemented by the Kremlin’s fifth column in Moldova, which is heavily supported – financially and organizationally – by Moscow, are, in my opinion, a great danger for the informational and political security of the country. The Broadcasting Coordinating Council and the Supreme Security Council should seriously discuss this problem.
Media-azi.md: About 20 years ago you founded the first regional newspaper, Cuvantul, a periodical that was independent from authorities and political formations, proving, and in Moldova, too, there can be other press that the one state- or party-owned. How difficult is it to develop a business of editing an independent newspaper outside of large cities?
Tudor Iascenco: Without a professional, well-intentioned and motivated (including financially) team, it is very difficult to run a successful business in print media, especially today, when there is increased interest in online media. By the way, after 1995, in the Orhei region there were several attempts to edit local newspapers, but they all failed, in my opinion, mainly due to the lack of professional teams and impossibility to distance from authorities/political formations. The law on denationalization of public periodicals somewhat facilitates the emergence of new non-partisan newspapers. However, for it to really happen, authorities should renounce the practice of controlling mass media, and the society should strongly condemn any attempt to interfere with the editorial policy of mass media. On a side note, the Cuvantul reporters have recently asked the people of the Orhei region to answer the question: “Who in Moldova needs free and non-partisan mass media?” People were offered several possible answers: the Parliament, the Government, local authorities, political formations, the justice sector, NGOs, journalists, society. The absolute majority of respondents (including representatives of authorities) considered that the existence of free and impartial media would be beneficial for all these structures, especially for society.
Media-azi.md: If everyone speaks in favor of free media, why don’t they do everything in their power for it to exist?
Tudor Iascenco: In fact, many say one thing while being guided by other standards. So far, non-partisan media in Moldova appeared and developed mostly due to disinterested help from international bodies. Now it is time for our country’s authorities to turn their faces to independent mass media. There are numerous ways to support media outlets (newspapers, radio stations and televisions) without exercising pressure or interfering with their editorial policies. For example, the State could cover some expenses on distribution of periodicals by means of specialized enterprises or by initiating a facilitating tax policy for their publication and distribution. In their turn, mass media, if they really wish to be the fourth estate, need to prove that they deserve this role, and convince society of it.
Media-azi.md: When you founded the newspaper, you refused to make propaganda for the party that won elections. Do you know many media outlets that resist the temptation of singing praises to the government and to politicians in general?
Tudor Iascenco: Cuvantul was founded by several journalists, who still are both its owners and employees. We are responsible before the almost 5,000 subscribers, who have been reading our newspaper for many years. By purchasing the newspaper and the advertising spots, they ensure the income necessary to cover the publication’s needs. Every team member has the right and the obligation to cover events in an objective and impartial manner, verifying all information from several sources. The dependence of Cuvantul on local authorities or political formations is the same as on any other subscriber. That is why no one can influence the publication’s editorial policy. At the beginning, there were many who tried, by various methods, to force conditions on us. We didn’t accept and for some years now no one has tried to limit our freedom or “seduce” us. We resist “temptations”, although sometimes we have quite serious economic problems. I know that many publications, under the cover of freedom of expression, prefer various ways of making money, including promotion of persons or groups with a clearly dubious image. We try not to engage in such games so as not to damage our reputation.
Media-azi.md: What is your opinion on the course of the selection of new members into the Supervisory Board of Teleradio-Moldova [TRM], for the positions vacated late last year?
Tudor Iascenco: The process of selection and confirmation of members to the Supervisory Board of TRM is still under political pressure. The attitude of the current government towards the role of mass media in society differs from that of the previous government only in the fact that the society managed to impose different standards. There still is a lot to do about it so as to have the desired situation.
Media-azi.md: Thank you for the interview and good luck in your work!
Media-azi.md: Mr. Iascenco, you have recently been elected as president of the Association of Independent Press (AIP) of Moldova. What does this vote of confidence from the General Meeting of the AIP mean, and what are your expectations at the beginning of a two-year mandate?
Tudor Iascenco: For me, the AIP is one of the biggest and most important achievements during the 45 years of my work with the media. Thanks to the trust of my colleagues, I returned to the position of president of the Association 15 years later, during which time the AIP has matured and became one of the most influential media organizations in Moldova. It is now recognized and appreciated not only in the country, but also abroad, due to staying loyal to its statutory principles – independence from all kinds of authorities and from political formations, while still being consequent in achieving its mission of contributing to the development of professional, non-partisan and profitable mass media by increasing the professionalism of journalists, improving the quality and viability of media products, and protecting the civil and professional rights of employees of independent media outlets. The AIP has to its credit lots of important achievements, but new tasks and problems appear, which need solutions. For example, the governance program of the current coalition contains a section on the economic development of mass media. We were glad when this program was adopted. Unfortunately, it stayed at the level of good intentions, as almost nothing has been done. If our fellow professionals were more active and more united, they could have influenced the government to fulfill at least some of the objectives. Now, the AIP is working on its strategy for the upcoming years, and it will include current problems of the Moldovan media. I hope that other organizations and outlets will also engage into solving them.
Media-azi.md: What is your opinion of mass media in Moldova? To what extent are they free and independent?
Tudor Iascenco: Moldovan media are much freer today than they were five years ago. It is proven by the significant number of outlets on the media market and by the fact that all political formations have free access to these media. A certain role in this regard had the adoption of the law on denationalization of public periodicals, developed and promoted by the AIP. Another issue is the fact that central print and electronic media have recently become more financially dependent on moguls and obscure persons, who take influential positions in Moldovan politics and use mass media for their personal and group interests. The main problem is that several media outlets are concentrated in the hands of the same owners, who prefer the role of anonymous manipulators of public opinion. In this sense, the AIP can again serve as a positive model: all owners of the newspapers member of our association are known; their names can be found in the print and online versions of publications. In fact, in most cases, owners are actually the journalists working in these newspapers.
Media-azi.md: How does the fact that the Moldovan media market is prevailed by Russian televisions affect the level of press freedom?
Tudor Iascenco: The Moldovan media market is dominated by print and electronic mass media from the Russian Federation. The fact that they are many is not a bad thing. The problem is other. First, Russian newspapers and magazines create unfair competition to the local media by coming to our media market under preferential conditions. Some leaders in the government recognize this fact, but do nothing to correct the situation. And since these media are dominating, it is obvious that the greatest amount of advertising (according to some experts – over 70%) reach these very outlets. And advertising is one of the main sources for the economic development of mass media. But the greatest danger is the fact that Russian media do not inform, but manipulate public opinion, forcing on it day by day and hour by hour only the opinion of the Kremlin. It has been especially evident over the past years, when Moscow launched a very aggressive and hypocritical policy against the former Soviet republics, trying to bring them, at any price, under a new imperial rule. Today, Russian televisions, with their expansionist editorial policies supplemented by the Kremlin’s fifth column in Moldova, which is heavily supported – financially and organizationally – by Moscow, are, in my opinion, a great danger for the informational and political security of the country. The Broadcasting Coordinating Council and the Supreme Security Council should seriously discuss this problem.
Media-azi.md: About 20 years ago you founded the first regional newspaper, Cuvantul, a periodical that was independent from authorities and political formations, proving, and in Moldova, too, there can be other press that the one state- or party-owned. How difficult is it to develop a business of editing an independent newspaper outside of large cities?
Tudor Iascenco: Without a professional, well-intentioned and motivated (including financially) team, it is very difficult to run a successful business in print media, especially today, when there is increased interest in online media. By the way, after 1995, in the Orhei region there were several attempts to edit local newspapers, but they all failed, in my opinion, mainly due to the lack of professional teams and impossibility to distance from authorities/political formations. The law on denationalization of public periodicals somewhat facilitates the emergence of new non-partisan newspapers. However, for it to really happen, authorities should renounce the practice of controlling mass media, and the society should strongly condemn any attempt to interfere with the editorial policy of mass media. On a side note, the Cuvantul reporters have recently asked the people of the Orhei region to answer the question: “Who in Moldova needs free and non-partisan mass media?” People were offered several possible answers: the Parliament, the Government, local authorities, political formations, the justice sector, NGOs, journalists, society. The absolute majority of respondents (including representatives of authorities) considered that the existence of free and impartial media would be beneficial for all these structures, especially for society.
Media-azi.md: If everyone speaks in favor of free media, why don’t they do everything in their power for it to exist?
Tudor Iascenco: In fact, many say one thing while being guided by other standards. So far, non-partisan media in Moldova appeared and developed mostly due to disinterested help from international bodies. Now it is time for our country’s authorities to turn their faces to independent mass media. There are numerous ways to support media outlets (newspapers, radio stations and televisions) without exercising pressure or interfering with their editorial policies. For example, the State could cover some expenses on distribution of periodicals by means of specialized enterprises or by initiating a facilitating tax policy for their publication and distribution. In their turn, mass media, if they really wish to be the fourth estate, need to prove that they deserve this role, and convince society of it.
Media-azi.md: When you founded the newspaper, you refused to make propaganda for the party that won elections. Do you know many media outlets that resist the temptation of singing praises to the government and to politicians in general?
Tudor Iascenco: Cuvantul was founded by several journalists, who still are both its owners and employees. We are responsible before the almost 5,000 subscribers, who have been reading our newspaper for many years. By purchasing the newspaper and the advertising spots, they ensure the income necessary to cover the publication’s needs. Every team member has the right and the obligation to cover events in an objective and impartial manner, verifying all information from several sources. The dependence of Cuvantul on local authorities or political formations is the same as on any other subscriber. That is why no one can influence the publication’s editorial policy. At the beginning, there were many who tried, by various methods, to force conditions on us. We didn’t accept and for some years now no one has tried to limit our freedom or “seduce” us. We resist “temptations”, although sometimes we have quite serious economic problems. I know that many publications, under the cover of freedom of expression, prefer various ways of making money, including promotion of persons or groups with a clearly dubious image. We try not to engage in such games so as not to damage our reputation.
Media-azi.md: What is your opinion on the course of the selection of new members into the Supervisory Board of Teleradio-Moldova [TRM], for the positions vacated late last year?
Tudor Iascenco: The process of selection and confirmation of members to the Supervisory Board of TRM is still under political pressure. The attitude of the current government towards the role of mass media in society differs from that of the previous government only in the fact that the society managed to impose different standards. There still is a lot to do about it so as to have the desired situation.
Media-azi.md: Thank you for the interview and good luck in your work!
Source of photo: http://gdb.rferl.org
