ICJ Held a Public Event in Support of the Journalists Accredited to Parliament

"The fold is for sheep, not for us!", "We want access to Parliament!", "Give us proper conditions; keep that sheep fold for yourself!" – these are some of the slogans of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) put up during the public awareness event on Thursday, February 12, in support of the journalists accredited to Parliament, who do not have access to the Parliament meetings.
 
"The MPs deciding the fate of the country without any journalists present is an offense to the freedom of press and a violation of the interests of the people", said the civic activist Oleg Brega for Media Today. He believes that the prohibition of access to journalists to the Chamber of Parliament is just one of the many aspects of the disastrous condition of Moldovan media. Other major violations that take place with the consent of the rulers are: media control by a handful of oligarchs with vested interests and political presence even, the holding of more than one or two broadcasting licenses, information insecurity and Russian propaganda.
 
"The journalists should not encounter limitations when working on their materials. We want to watch the MPs emotions on screen, when they vote or refuse to vote a particular bill, so that we know whom to elect next time", said Ana Valcu, a retiree from Chisinau who came to support the awareness raising event in front of Parliament."I do not get it: what is the harm of the press’ attending? One gets the impression that the MPs want to keep it secret what they talk among themselves. Only the media can disclose what the MPs are up to, it is the duty of journalists; but instead they are confined to a real sheep fold", she concluded.
 

The new Regulation on Accreditation of Journalists specifies certain rights, on one hand, and restricts the journalists' rights, on the other hand
 
The work of journalists is now regulated by a new Regulation on Accreditation of Media Representatives to Parliament, approved by the Bureau of Parliament on 9 February 2015.
 
Asked by Media Today to comment on this Regulation, Eugene Ribca, media law expert, qualified it as "contradictory, granting all rights to journalists, on one hand, and leaving room for limiting these rights, on the other hand". Formally, the Regulation – in at least two paragraphs – provides clearly that the journalists have direct access to the Chamber of Parliament, while prohibiting access to Parliament meetings. "It's a typical document for Moldova, when one thing is stated and quite another is intended. MPs make use of this trick quite often, whenever they want to limit one right or another. When discussing with our European/international partners they make reference to the article in the Regulation that allows the access of journalists to the Chamber, while whenever a concrete journalist actually requests access they make reference to the provision prohibiting the access of journalists to Parliament meetings", commented the expert.
 
The Regulation on the Accreditation of Mass Media Representatives to Parliament and the Access of Journalists to Parliament was also criticized by Corina Fusu, Liberal MP, on her Facebook page. "My whistle blowing in the former Parliament about the access of journalists to Parliament meetings was in vain. The journalists are still confined to that "sheep fold". The images will be aired by six cameras in the Chamber of Parliament, and only a limited number of journalists without recording equipment on them will be allowed to stay in the space reserved for them. So much for professional journalism, freedom of press and access to the first source!". The MP also drew attention to the provision that only institutions with an independent unbiased editorial policy, aiming at guaranteeing pluralism of opinions will be allowed to attend. "The question is: who will assess the quality of the media? The Speaker, the leaders of factions or maybe the covert owners of the media, the ones lurking in the shadows?" asked Corina Fusu rhetorically.
 
Accreditation of journalists to Parliament is a matter not only of access to information and freedom of expression, but also of protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Hence, "the adoption of the Regulation on the accreditation of mass media representatives to Parliament by another act – be it signed by the Speaker or the Bureau of Parliament – conflicts with the Constitution", says Eugene Ribca, media law expert. According to the expert, the Regulation needs to be replaced by a Law on the Accreditation of Journalists that would provide clear conditions for the accreditation of journalists to Government, Parliament and other institutions.

According to the IJC representatives, the awareness raising event held on Thursday, February 12, is part of an extensive advocacy campaign and aims to ensure free access of the media to Parliament meetings, so that the media can reflect objectively and multilaterally the work of the Legislative and provide accurate information to the public. Similar events will be organized in the coming days, when the MPs will meet in plenary sessions.
 
It should be reminded that in 2014 the media organizations took a number of steps (appeals, flash mobs, round tables, debate clubs) to raise the awareness of the MPs on the need to ensure better working conditions for the journalists accredited to Parliament. However, the professional activity of journalists remains restricted by confinement to a specially designed room compared by the journalists to a sheep fold, from which they are expected to cover the Parliament's work for the public.