Public Appeal to Speaker Andrian Candu: Don’t Make It More Difficult for the Journalists to Access Personal Data

The National Center for Personal Data Protection (NCPDP) submitted a new draft proposal of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data on November 22. Several media NGOs are concerned that the new law, if it comes into force, will make it more difficult for journalists to access to personal data. For example, Article 12(3) of this legislative initiative states that journalists must justify the public interest when requesting information containing personal data for journalistic purposes. The law also stipulates that the freedom of information and expression can be restricted, inter alia, to protect the reputation or the rights of other persons.
An appeal to the Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova, Andrian Candu, was published by a number of NGOs that wish to bring to attention the fact that the draft law was subject neither to public debates, nor to civil society analysis. Furthermore some of its provisions are contrary to the public interest of citizens and to the fundamental rights and professional interests of journalists.
The appeal also points out that the Parliamentary Working Group on Audio-visual Legislation, chaired by Andrian Candu, has already presented a package to amend a set of legislative acts including the Law on Personal Data Protection. The package of laws has been reviewed by media experts and journalists in consultation with civil society to ensure its compliance with freedom of expression and other fundamental rights. The NGOs ask the Speaker to promote this package of laws instead of the draft proposed by the NCPDP.
The public appeal was signed by 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 and RISE Moldova.

Media NGOs Condemn the Local Authorities of Orhei for Limiting ZdG Journalists’ Access to Information

Several media NGOs in a joint declaration have condemned the lack of access to events organized by the Orhei Mayoralty for the town holiday on November 8. The event took place at the ‘OrheiLand’ amusement park; the journalists were denied access allegedly due to lack of proper accreditation, although the law allows journalists to take part in public events. “We demand that the General Prosecutor’s Office acts on its own initiative with respect to this case to hold responsible those who violated the journalists’ rights,” states the declaration signed by the Center for Independent Journalism, Association of Independent Press, Association of Electronic Press, Center for Investigative Journalism, Press Freedom Committee, Association of Independent TV Journalists, ‘Access-info’ Center and RISE Moldova.

Media NGOs Condemn the Restrictions and Attacks Against Journalists of Shor Party Representatives

Shor Party representatives have denied access to the Jurnal TV camera crew at a press conference held on November 27 on the grounds that they had not received proper accreditation. Party spokeswoman Alina Sargu told Jurnal TV journalist Parascovia Spic via a text message that she was prohibited from attending the event because Jurnal TV does not represent an “impartial media institution.” During the conference, Party Vice-President and Mayor of Jora de Mijloc Marina Tauber attacked another journalist asking her a question, accusing him of having been “paid out of the stolen billion.”  
Media NGOs consider this kind of behavior on behalf of politicians contrary to both national and international standards. In a statement signed by eight media NGOs, political parties and civil servants are called to show more openness to the press and to stop attacks against journalists. The signatories of the declaration also emphasize that institutions of law enforcement are responsible for combating such hostile behaviors.

Criminal Proceedings for Threatening Journalists Against Ilan Sor Will Not Be Initiated

Orhei Mayor Ilan Shor won’t be brought to account for his threats against journalists. In a videotape published on July 20, he claimed that, once he comes to power, the lustration law will be applied on the inconvenient journalists whom he defines vaguely as “paid to write nasty things about people.” Although several media NGOs previously voiced their concern on Shor’s threatening statements against journalists, Stefan Saptefrati, Head of Chisinau’s Prosecutor’s Office told Agora.md that the mayor’s actions did not constitute a crime and that he decided not to initiate criminal proceedings. 

Ombudsperson Repeatedly Requests that the General Prosecutor’s Office Examine the Ilan Shor’s Threats Against Journalists

After the Prosecutor’s Office’s refusal to initiate criminal proceedings against Ilan Sor for his alleged statements threatening journalists on July 20, the Ombudsperson (tasked with ensuring the observance of human rights and freedoms by public authorities) Mihail Cotorobai sent repeated requests to the General Prosecutor’s Office to reexamine the incident and take measures against the persecution and intimidation of journalists. In addition, the Ombudsperson asked the Speaker of Parliament to urgently adopt the package of legislation on hate crimes. However, it must be noted that intimidation of a media outlet or journalist for criticism is already prohibited by the Criminal Law of the Republic of Moldova.

Journalist Vadim Ungureanu Contests His Corruption Conviction  

Vadim Ungureanu, a journalist at Deschide.md, has contested the judgment of the District Court of Chisinau before the Court of Appeal. According to the appealed judgment, Ungureanu was found guilty of asking Dan Chirita, the former Deputy Head of the Information Technologies Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, not to publish defamatory information on Ungureanu in exchange for providing compromising information on certain Moldovan artists. Ungureanu was sentenced to three years of suspended imprisonment and a fine in the amount of MDL 70,000. In his appeal, the journalist criticized the evidence provided by the prosecution, insisting that his case was fabricated by representatives of law enforcement bodies to uncover the sources of his information.

BCC Invited to Explain Alleged Fake News Broadcasted by Publika TV to the Parliament

Upon the request of MP Inna Supac (of the PCRM faction), Chair of the Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) Dragos Vicol was invited to a hearing in Parliament. It was held to discuss the alleged instance of dissemination of fake news by Publika TV in a broadcast on September 7. The broadcast covered alleged death threats to employees of the Embassy and the Consulate of the Republic of Moldova in Berlin in the context of the expulsion of Turkish teachers from the Republic of Moldova. At the parliamentary hearing, the BCC Chair had to explain what measures were taken against Publika TV and its owner Vlad Plahotniuc for broadcasting the fake news. Vicol stated that he personally does not believe that the TV broadcast contains fake news, but that he would investigate the issue at BCC after receiving the necessary evidence and statements from Publika TV.

RISE Moldova on Stalking Moldovan Journalists

RISE Moldova published an article stating that investigative journalist Liuba Sevciuc was stalked by a “professional provoker.” While on the TV8 talk show ‘Natalia Morari's Politics’ program, she explained that RISE management was approached by a person claiming to have information on the journalist. “I suppose he wanted to intimidate us — not only me, but also my other colleagues,” said Liuba Sevciuc on the talk show on October 31.
Talk show moderator Natalia Morari also wrote in a social network post that she did not feel safe because “this person says that those from the Special Operations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were at my mother’s house, too.”
After RISE Moldova published an article on the illegal stalking of reporters, the Police announced that they initiated an investigation to verify the information.

Debate on Combating Hate Speech with Participation of Lithuanian Experts

Use of rapid response mechanisms by the broadcasting regulator in combating false news and hate speech, as well as examination of solutions for combating misinformation were some of the subjects discussed at the ‘Combating Hate Speech in the Media: Experience of Lithuania for the Republic of Moldova’ roundtable on November 15. Organized by the Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC), the event was also attended by a number of guest representatives of the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania. A Cooperation Agreement was signed at the round table between the BCC of Moldova and the Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania, which will allow the Moldovan authorities to learn from the best practices of their Lithuanian counterparts in combating hate speech, fake news, misinformation and propaganda.

Three Vacant Positions at BCC

The Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sport and Mass-media has launched a competition to fill three vacant positions at the Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC). The contest will fill the positions of three BCC members who have finished their terms - Iurie Colesnic, Cristina Duca and Olga Barbalata. Candidates to these positions will be selected by the abovementioned Parliamentary Committee and Parliamentary Legal Committee for Appointments and Immunities and will subsequently be submitted to the Parliament for a final vote and confirmation.

The Competition Council Still Investigating the Existence of a Cartel of Advertisers

Four TV channels — PRO TV Chisinau, RTR-Moldova, Jurnal TV and TV8 — lodged a joint complaint to the Competition Council (CC) in January accused two advertising companies — Casa Media and Exclusive Sales House — of cartel arrangements. When asked by Media-Azi.md to share information on the outcomes of the investigation, spokesperson of the CC, Cristina Zara, stated that the investigation is still ongoing. Mariana Rata, representative of TV8, claimed that in the course of the investigation the CC requested additional information that is not related to the subject of the original complaint made by TV8. “We feel that we are ‘investigated,’ but those who organized the cartel are not. We are also asked about things that we did not include in the complaint,” Mariana Rata said.

New Broadcasters of Orhei Provide Platform for the Mayor

Two new TV broadcasters, Orhei TV and Central Television, were launched on November 8 in Orhei. During the first newscasts, the mayor of Orhei, Ilan Sor, played a key role. He promised citizens that they would live “like in Monaco.” In the same newscast, the Deputies of the Mayor praised the authorities’ achievements made under the leadership of Sor and thanked citizens of Orhei for “supporting the mayor and his team.”
According to Media-azi.md, Ilan Sor is yet another politician building a media holding; a large number of the new TV broadcasters’ shows will be hosted by individuals close to Sor. The TV stations are owned by Rita Ţvik, who was featured with her husband in the Kroll Report on the 2014 Banking Fraud in Moldova.

Media Legislation

A New Draft Law on Personal Data Protection Introduces Additional Limitations for Journalists

A new draft Law on Personal Data Protection, registered in the Parliament on November 22, could further restrict access to personal data of public interest to media. The draft law stipulates that when handling personal data journalists must respect the physical and mental security of subjects, as well as their rights and interests. However, the content and nature of these interests is not specified. The draft was developed by the National Center for Personal Data Protection and was submitted by 15 MPs from the PDM faction. Several media NGOs made a public statement to the Speaker of the Parliament, Andrian Candu, expressing that the development of the draft law was not transparent and the draft law itself fails to take into account expert opinions, journalists’ needs or media realities in Moldova.

The Moldovan President Did Not Promulgate the Audiovisual Media Services Code

On October 2, President Dodon submitted the Audiovisual Media Services Code to Parliament for renewed consideration. Dodon was dissatisfied with the provisions allowing for transmission of informative, analytical, political and military broadcasts only from the member states of the European Union, the US, Canada and states that have ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. It must be noted that the Russian Federation has not ratified this convention.
The Constitution stipulates that the President of the Republic of Moldova is entitled, whenever he has objections regarding a law passed by the Parliament, to submit it within two weeks for renewed consideration. In July, Dodon said on a TV broadcast that he would not promulgate this law “neither the first nor the second time, even if I am threatened with suspension.”

Parliament Passed the Audiovisual Media Services Code Rejected by the President For a Second Time

At its ordinary meeting on November 8, the Parliament reconsidered and again supported with a majority vote the draft Audiovisual Media Services Code. The Code was rejected and submitted to Parliament for renewed consideration by President Dodon earlier that month. 53 MPs out of the 93 present for the plenary session voted in favor of the repeated approval of the draft Code. MPs from the pro-Dodon PSRM party criticized several provisions of the Code, including those referring to local content. The Parliamentary Committee for Media presented a report and explained the need to introduce requirements for compulsory local content, as ‘otherwise we will not develop the Moldovan broadcasting’.

Will the President Promulgate the Code or Choose to be Suspended?

On November 14 the Audiovisual Media Services Code was sent back to President Dodon. Speaker Adrian Candu announced on his Facebook page: “I signed and submitted the Audiovisual Media Service Code and supplement of the Labour Code with norms providing for the celebration of Europe Day on May 9, along with Victory Day, for promulgation. I hope that President Dodon will respect the Constitution and will promulgate the laws which the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova upheld with its vote,” wrote Candu.
According to law, the President may only ask the Parliament to reconsider the law once. If MPs uphold the previously adopted decision, President is obliged to promulgate the law within 2 weeks.

Parliament Adopts New Parliamentary Rules and Procedures, Including Those Containing New Rules for Journalists

A few weeks before the end of their mandate, MPs decided to replace Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with a new Code of Parliamentary Rules and Procedures. The draft document, which also includes certain rules for media representatives, was approved in the first reading by 52 MPs on November 22. The draft provides, inter alia, that “media outlets shall treat without discrimination the factions, groups of MPs or independent MPs from the parliamentary majority and those from the parliamentary opposition, giving them equal conditions to freely express their views.” Another paragraph stipulates that media representatives shall disseminate the public statements of MPs “by complying with principles of social and political balance.” The draft was registered with the Parliament on November 2, as a legislative initiative of three Democratic MPs - Andrian Candu, Sergiu Sirbu and Raisa Apolschi.

Media-M Partner Updates

Over than 20 Journalists Learned About NATO

More than 20 journalists from media outlets in Chisinau and a number of regions of the Republic of Moldova attended a training ‘More about NATO’ on November 16-17. The event was organized by the NATO Liaison Office in Moldova in partnership with the Embassy of Poland in Chisinau and Independent Journalism Center. “We decided to provide journalists with fist-hand information, presenting them the tools they need in order to be able to make balanced and objective journalistic materials,” said Kristina Baleisyte, Head of NATO Liaison Office. James Mackey, representative of the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division of NATO Headquarters, referred to NATO’s role in guaranteeing security in the world. During a joint meeting, HE Bartlomiej Zdaniuk, Ambassador of Poland, and HE Daniel Ionita, Ambassador of Romania, presented the advantages of being part of the NATO community from the standpoint of their countries.

Media Education Week Inspired Hundreds of Pupils, Teachers and Parents to Be Critical Readers

Debates, workshops, round tables, focus groups, poster and photo contests, games, quizzes, visits to editorial offices, libraries and museums, meetings with journalists – all these activities were organized during the first edition of the Media Education Week, held from November 22-28 at the initiative of the Independent Journalism Center. The activities, organized to promote critical thinking and the conscious consumption of information, included special events in addition to the optional ‘Education for Media’ subject in schools. Pupils also went to museums, where they learnt about media history and development, and to editorial offices, where they saw how a media institution operates and how news coverage is produced. About 600 pupils, 50 teachers and 80 parents participated in the events organized during the Media Education Week. The activities took place in 20 lyceums and gymnasiums from Falesti, Floresti, Causeni, Straseni, Orhei, Criuleni, Leova, Drochia, Rabnita districts and Chisinau municipality.

Media Education Reaches Also Schools Teaching in Russian

The Independent Journalism Center conducted the first training program for the teachers that teach in Russian. A group of 15 teachers from various districts of the Republic of Moldova took part in this training and learned about the content of the course and methods of teaching the optional subject ‘Education for Media.’ The trainers were Loretta Handrabura, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor, Ion Creanga from SPU, and Natalia Griu, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research. The training program was based on the Russian translation of the ‘Education for Media’ curriculum and manual developed by both of the trainers. For three days participants explored the teaching and learning materials, enriched their media literacy skills and took part in various interactive activities in order to better understand the media literacy needs of primary school students. The training was attended by teachers from Stefan Voda, Falesti, Ocnita, Drochia, Ceadir-Lunga districts and from Balti and Chisinau municipalities.

IJC Awarded ‘What Do I Learn at Education for Media’ Contest Winners

The student participants in the ‘What do I learn at Education for Media discipline?’ Video Materials Contest, organized by Independent Journalism Center (IJC), were invited to Chisinau on November 9 to learn the results of the competition. Participants were tasked with producing a video with a maximum duration of 1.5 minutes, explaining various aspects of media education, demonstrating what they understood by media education, what they have learned and how to use the knowledge gained. The organizers received 20 videos from which five winners were selected.  

Freedom House Opens Call for Local Advocacy Initiatives

Freedom House’s Media Freedom Matters call for advocacy initiatives is open! Freedom House in Moldova, in collaboration with the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, invites applications for funding and support from local, registered non-governmental organizations and coalitions based in the Republic of Moldova, the Eastern Partnership Region, and the European Union that seek to raise awareness about press freedom, freedom of expression, and independent media in the Republic of Moldova, including among the public, marginalized communities, government, local authorities, and other sectors. Freedom House and the Black Sea Trust will select up to three (3) advocacy initiatives for up to $10,000 in funding each.
Program objectives, thematic areas and eligibility criteria can be found here. Applications must be received by Freedom House by 23:59 EST on December 20, 2018.
This program is a joint effort by Freedom House in Moldova and the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation implemented under the auspices of the Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova project, with support from Internews in Moldova, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID Moldova).

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