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Рy15 February 2016
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A group of journalists from national and local media outlets participated on Friday, February 12, in a training organized by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), where they were taught to apply the legislation on access to information. Participants discussed about the legal aspects that a professional journalist should take into consideration in their work and about the practical ways of obtaining information of public interest. Also, they learned how to write official requests.
Trainers – media law expert Tatiana Puiu and journalist Dumitru Lazur – explained how to work with open governmental data, what the liability for violation of the right to access information is, etc.
According to Tatiana Puiu, official information is a fundamental right of a person and a way to control the work of authorities/public institutions, to manage public money, to form opinions and ensure active participation in decision making. In this sense, it is very important for journalists to know legal provisions concerning access to information, such as: who information providers are; what the information delivery procedure is; what information has limited and absolute accessibility; what procedures can be used to challenge a refusal to provide information; etc.
Trainer Dumitru Lazur underlined: “A journalist who wants to be good in their work needs to know the principles, ways and procedure for exercising the right of access to information of public interest that is in the possession of public authorities. First, it is necessary for the journalist to know how to access and use open governmental data; then, if the information they seek is not open, the journalist should use the provisions of the Law on access to information in order to obtain what they need.” According to the trainer, the course on the topic of access to information of public interest is important for journalists, and it will eventually contribute to improving the quality of journalism in Moldova.
Participants in the training were impressed by the theoretical and practical aspects that they learned and will be able to use in their journalistic work. The legal provisions they did not understand are now much clearer, and writing requests to public institutions when they need to obtain information of public interest will be an easy task for them.
Victoria Popa, reporter for “Jurnal de Chișinău” newspaper, appreciated the practical aspect of the training: “Although I knew how to write a request for information to local public authorities, trainers showed to us broader and more varied models, which allow us to better know our rights and obligations in connection with access to information.” Freelance journalist Nadejda Cobet added: “I am very pleased with this training, which helped me understand how to use open databases, where to seek useful information to produce journalistic materials. I also better understood some provisions of the Law on access to information.”
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This training has been possible due to the generous help of the American people offered through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The opinions here belong to authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of USAID or the U.S. Government.
Trainers – media law expert Tatiana Puiu and journalist Dumitru Lazur – explained how to work with open governmental data, what the liability for violation of the right to access information is, etc.
According to Tatiana Puiu, official information is a fundamental right of a person and a way to control the work of authorities/public institutions, to manage public money, to form opinions and ensure active participation in decision making. In this sense, it is very important for journalists to know legal provisions concerning access to information, such as: who information providers are; what the information delivery procedure is; what information has limited and absolute accessibility; what procedures can be used to challenge a refusal to provide information; etc.
Trainer Dumitru Lazur underlined: “A journalist who wants to be good in their work needs to know the principles, ways and procedure for exercising the right of access to information of public interest that is in the possession of public authorities. First, it is necessary for the journalist to know how to access and use open governmental data; then, if the information they seek is not open, the journalist should use the provisions of the Law on access to information in order to obtain what they need.” According to the trainer, the course on the topic of access to information of public interest is important for journalists, and it will eventually contribute to improving the quality of journalism in Moldova.
Participants in the training were impressed by the theoretical and practical aspects that they learned and will be able to use in their journalistic work. The legal provisions they did not understand are now much clearer, and writing requests to public institutions when they need to obtain information of public interest will be an easy task for them.
Victoria Popa, reporter for “Jurnal de Chișinău” newspaper, appreciated the practical aspect of the training: “Although I knew how to write a request for information to local public authorities, trainers showed to us broader and more varied models, which allow us to better know our rights and obligations in connection with access to information.” Freelance journalist Nadejda Cobet added: “I am very pleased with this training, which helped me understand how to use open databases, where to seek useful information to produce journalistic materials. I also better understood some provisions of the Law on access to information.”
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This training has been possible due to the generous help of the American people offered through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The opinions here belong to authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of USAID or the U.S. Government.
