On June 21, the new Cabinet of Ministers published its agenda, which includes a number of measures for development of independent media and ensuring fair access to media. The outlined priorities include the following: media de-monopolization, ensuring the independence of Teleradio-Moldova and ensuring journalists’ free access to information of public interest. De-monopolization will be achieved by freeing the advertising market, securing the independence of the TV audience measurement company, prohibiting offshore companies and companies which do not disclose the beneficiary owners of media outlets, as well as by promoting the legal framework on financial transparency of media outlets.

Media NGOs inform embassies and international institutions of a new wave of assaults against journalists

Media NGOs have condemned the assaults, intimidations and violent actions taken against journalists during the events of June 7-9, which were provoked by the participants of protests organized in Chisinau by the Democratic Party of Moldova. During those three days, several media outlets published videos of assaults on their field reporters. The eight signatories of the statement, including the Independent Journalism Center, Association of Independent Press, Association of Electronic Press, Center for Investigative Journalism and others have stated that Moldovan journalists are not safe in their profession and that assaults have recently become more frequent.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media calls on the Moldovan authorities

Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House Condemn Assaults Against Journalists in Moldova

A number of international organizations that monitor media freedom worldwide have reacted to the statement of Moldovan media NGOs condemning assaults against journalists during the events of June 7-9.  On June 13 IFEX International Association republished the statement and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Freedom House urged political forces in Moldova to respect the journalists’ rights. “We urge all the political forces to do what is needed to halt this wave of violence,” said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. RSF also drew attention to the backdrop of political polarization and oligarch control of the media – Moldova fell ten places in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index. Likewise, the director of Freedom House for Europe and Eurasia, Marc Behrendt, urged the Moldovan Government to ensure that journalists have the ability to do their job freely and without obstruction.

Assaulted Journalists Leave Press Conference in Protest

Media NGOs condemn the intimidation of CIJM reporter

Media NGOs condemn the assaults, threats and intimidations by the manager of SC Rapid Link SRL against the journalist Julieta Savitchi, author of the investigation The Government’s Gift for Newborns: Clothes of Suspicious Quality at Inflated Prices published by the Center for Investigative Journalism of Moldova (CIJM). After the column was published, the manager sent a threatening letter to the journalist: “We will be rough on you... You offended us in a dirty way and you dragged our name in mud, a name that we make with care day by day. You deserve the roughest treatment.” The media NGOs called these threats a serious breach of journalists’ rights, as the law guarantees freedom to receive and share information through mass media.

Public Broadcaster Criticized for not Covering the Country’s Political Events

On June 10, member of the Broadcasting Council (BC) Olga Gututui submitted a request to monitor how Moldova 1 – the Public Broadcaster – covered the country’s political events on June 8 and 9. The BC acted on its own initiative after a number of individuals expressed dissatisfaction on social networks, noting that while other TV stations were covering the political turmoil of the country, the Public Broadcaster continued to show concerts and movies, totally unrelated to the reality in the country. The BC will analyze the programs that were broadcast each hour as they relate to the Broadcaster’s legal obligations.

SCM Reviewed the Case of a Judge who Verbally Assaulted Jurnal TV’s Camera Crew

On May 21, the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) officially noted information regarding the judicial investigation of the case of Magistrate Sergei Lazari. On February 13, the Magistrate verbally assaulted Jurnal TV’s camera crew, while journalists were reporting on former Judge Domnica Manole. The judicial investigation was a response to the call of media NGOs to the SCM to comment on the case as it relates to compliance with professional ethics. During the examination session, Serghei Lazari did not deny that he addressed the journalists in a threatening manner, but he justified his actions by pointing to the “inappropriate behavior of Jurnal TV’s camera crew.” For this reason, the SCM decided not to sanction Magistrate Lazari, but instead to take official note of the findings of the judicial investigation.

BC Extended the Broadcasting License of RTR Moldova with Conditions

During its meeting on June 19, the members of the Broadcasting Council (BC) voted to conditionally extend the broadcasting license of the RTR Moldova TV channel. The condition of extending the license was to revise the General Concept of Program Services, including the volume of content taken from the Russian Federation and the volume of local product broadcast by RTR Moldova. During the public debates, BC member Olga Gututui drew the attention of TV channel representatives to the Article 5(2) of the Audiovisual Media Services Code which states that at least 50% of audiovisual programs purchased abroad must come from EU Member States and/or third countries participating in the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, while the work plan of the RTR Moldova channel envisages taking 48.65% of programs from the Russian Federation. BC Chairman Vicol Dragoș opted to extend the license of RTR Moldova and said that in the future the TV station would be monitored and held accountable to the law.

BC Suspended the Broadcasting License of TV Balti, at the Request of the Channel

On June 14, the BC suspended the broadcasting license of TV Balti (BTV) for a two-month period. This decision came after the management of the TV channel submitted a request to suspend the license and interrupt broadcasting for a six-month period. BTV manager Rodica Deleu told Media-azi.md that the temporary suspension of the activity was decided by BTV founders. According to the BC Press Officer, the TV channel’s request was due to lack of funds for maintenance.

Election in Gagauzia: Council of Observers Prohibited Commercial Programs on the Regional Public Channel

Amidst the election process, the Council of Observers of the Public Company Gagauzia Radio Televizionu (GRT) decided on June 3 to prohibit self-paid advertisements for candidates running for the Bashkan position. When contacted by Media-azi.md, the Chair of GRT CO, Igor Ianak, confirmed that the decision had been made “to create equal conditions for all the candidates.” For context, the Election Code of the Gagauz Autonomous Territory stipulates that all media outlets broadcasting or printing in Gagauzia are obliged to offer airtime – both free and paid – to independent candidates, competitors, political parties and to other stakeholders registered as participants of the elections in the autonomous territory.

Journalist Sues Soroca Mayor’s Office for Blocking His Access to their Facebook Page

On June 5, Vadim Sterbate, a journalist from “Observatorul de Nord,” filed a lawsuit against Soroca Mayor and Mayor’s Office for violating his right to access information of public interest. Sterbate noted that his access to the official Facebook page of Soroca Mayor’s Office was blocked. Vitalie Zama, the attorney who will represent the journalist in court, argued that it is not just the plaintiff’s rights that were violated in this case, but also the wider right of all Moldovan citizens to accurate and timely information on public matters.

Publika TV Publicly Warned About a Defamatory Title

“Ora de Ras” by Jurnal TV fined MDL 5,000

Media-M Project Updates

Winners of the "Fifth Power" Hackaton

Good Practice Guidelines Developed by the Press Council

In connection with the mass assaults against journalists during the protests organized by the Democratic Party, the Media Azi show asked a common question to the directors of eight media outlets: how do we ensure the balance between public interest and the security of journalists?
The Media Sustainability Index, published by IREX Europe, found that Moldovan media has not yet become a business able to sustain itself over time. In the Media Azi show, media expert Aneta Gonta analyses the main factors that led to a lower overall score for Moldova, compared to IREX Europe indicators of the previous year. The most dramatic decrease is in professional standards was documented in the Moldovan media sector.

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