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Participants discussed about the legal aspects that professional journalists should follow in their work and about the practical ways of obtaining information of public interest. Participants learned how to write official requests, how to make the difference between facts and value judgments and how to express themselves within the limits set by law so as to avoid accusations of defamation.
“For beginner journalists, and not only, it is important to know and especially to want to apply the law governing mass media. The goal of such trainings is not only to offer theoretical knowledge, but also to develop practical skills, based on examples, which is what we tried to do. The law on access to information is not perfect, but if you know how to use it, you can get a lot of information. Unfortunately, some fellow journalists are complaining that authorities obstruct their access to information, when in fact they don’t even bother writing a request for information. At the same time, it is important to understand that the freedom of expression has some limits that the media should comply with in order to avoid eventual lawsuits accusing them of defamation,” said trainer Alina Turcanu, coordinator of Center for Journalistic Investigations, editor for Radio Free Europe.
“Access to information and freedom of expression are important values in a democracy,” underlined trainer Tatiana Puiu, media law expert. “These values are, in fact, prerequisites for the development and progress of any person, and their practical application is essential for the protection of all rights and freedoms stipulated in the national and international legislation,” lawyer Tatiana Puiu said.
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 the writing of requests to various institutions whenever they need information of public interest will be an easy task for them. “The training was useful because we analyzed concrete situations. For me, who used to make only oral requests, it meant a lot to learn how to make a written request,” said Maxim Comissarov from the SP publication, who added that the trainers’ explanation of the laws on access to information and freedom of expression helped him better understand these laws.
Sorina Rementova, reporter for Gazeta de Sud, also found the training beneficial. “In the two days of the training I learned the aspects of the legal framework that will help me, as a journalist, obtain the necessary information. I learned that a journalist has the legitimate write to hold information of public interest, but that there are also some limits in order not to violate other persons’ right to private life,” the journalist mentioned.
