Corrupt Journalism

How would it be correct to call the Press Freedom Day in the situation of Moldova? It can't be a holiday, because we don't really have what to celebrate. Professional day seems inappropriate, since for real journalists every hour of life is dedicated to the profession. Black day? That seems distorted, too, because very many people in other professional communities don't do better. Perhaps it would be appropriate to treat it as an ordinary day, in which journalists work, trying to reveal unseen truths, while those in power show that they still don't care, making laws they themselves don't abide by.

The "beneficiary" of the cloning of Ziarul de Garda has become head of state
Let's take, for example, the Law on the Press, adopted back in 1994, according to which the state guarantees protection of honor and dignity of journalists, their health, life and goods. Statesmen voted this law, but they also neglect it whenever they have the opportunity. Examples? In 2011, during the election campaign for local elections, one of the electoral staff literally cloned newspapers Ziarul de Garda and Timpul… Clones were printed in an extremely large number of copies and were distributed for free. This action caused confusion among readers, and the image of the two outlets was severely affected. What followed? The editorial office of ZdG [Ziarul de Garda] addressed the police and the prosecutor’s office. At the request of ZdG a criminal case was initiated, which, however, lacked the names of people suspected of the crime. Six years have passed since then, but things have not evolved. After a series of inquiries, the investigation was stopped without any plausible explanation. Meanwhile, the “beneficiary” of the cloning of the two publications, at that time a candidate for mayor of Chisinau, became head of state… If the investigation went all the way, if prosecutors’ investigations proved that he, the current head of state, at that time candidate for mayor of Chisinau, was the “beneficiary” of that campaign of cloning independent publications, would he have gotten into the chair he is sitting on now?

Exclusive opening to loyal press
About attitude, again. Do you remember? All heads of state and all governments that followed one another in Moldova began their mandates by advertising their interest in efficient collaboration with the press. Meetings with representatives of media outlets were organized, where elected officials assumed firm commitments. Eventually, however, every one of those who was in power in the over 25 years of Moldovan independence showed openness only for journalists and media outlets that displayed loyalty to government and to the policy promoted by the parties that got to power.
 
Upon any change of power, opponents go back into trenches, resuming their battle from the start
Year after year, the battle for freedom of expression and for free, neutral and professional press seems worthless, as it leads to no great results. Moreover, upon any change of power, opponents go back into trenches, resuming their battle from the start. This state of things discourages journalism, transforming it more and more often into a commercial activity, from which those who do it can make a living, without thinking too much about deontology or fairness.
As everything is sold today in Moldova – houses, lands, drugs, vital organs, cars, court sentences, vain promises, public offices or even children, – it seems no longer surprising that journalism has become an object of trade… In the past decade, the sales market expanded, having included media outlets and journalists. You might say it is because of devastating economic conditions, which are impossible to resist for journalists and for the press. What about doctors, teachers, engineers or farmers, then? Aren’t conditions the same for them, too?
Today, since journalists have special access to the public, they are treated just like some politicians, who can be easily attracted from one camp into another. Journalists are sold, editorial offices are sold, media outlets are sold, denigrating articles are sold and bought. Thus, people from the media community, who used to be professionals, give up deontological principles and get to service corrupt politicians, who cleanse their names from dust and dirt by using the image of people from the press, who used to have a good name. Why did they do it? Why did they accept to give up their good name and leave the professional community? The majority probably got to where they are now because of poverty and existential problems. Others, because, after attempts to do a clean job in Moldova, where nearly everywhere you come across corruption and injustice, they told themselves it doesn’t matter anymore, that their efforts to remain in the community and abide by the principles of fair journalism have no value and are no longer of interest to anyone. The latter decided that their true lives are somewhere else, only at home, in the family, and the rest is irrelevant.
The only ones who can punish corrupt journalism are taxpayers, i.e. Moldovan citizens, many of whom deserve a clean press. They can determine consumption of the press and can succeed if they retaliate and no longer take into account the things promoted by those corrupt.
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The article was published within the Advocacy Campaigns Aimed at Improving Transparency of Media Ownership, Access to Information and promotion of EU values  and integration project, implemented by the IJC, which is, in its turn, part of the Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society project, implemented by FHI 360.This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The content are the responsibility of author and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.