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Media Managers Trained To Overcome the Financial Problems

12 December 2016
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The Independent Journalism Centre conducted on 8th – 9th of December a workshop on the issue of financial sustainability of the media institutions. 20 media managers, guided by seven experts from abroad, took part in the event.

The workshop aimed at analysing the current financial situation of the media and making recommendations for media outlets about how to overcome the financial problems they face. The participants in the workshop, jointly with the experts, developed four new business models for 4 types of media: online; periodicals; national TV / radio and regional TV / radio. Working on these models, they analysed and identified the target-audience of media outlets, the income sources, the inclusion or exclusion of promotional packages for advertisers, the cost for the consumers, etc. The international experts explained how some business models operate in other countries and which are the most important components of such a plan.

Media Azi requested the opinions of several participants in the event. The media managers mentioned, among other things, that the activities conducted in the framework of the workshop helped them not only to have an overview of the financial situation, but also to use this information in daily activities.

Elena Cioina, E-sanatate.md: “Such workshops are like a breath of fresh air…”

“I consider that such trainings are quite useful for enabling us to develop the independent media, both from the editorial, and the financial perspectives. If, in addition to it, they can bring some profit, it is ideal. Such workshops are like a breath of fresh air for those who have no educational background in management and do many things intuitively or “steal” the secrets of the job from other people. I will try to apply the techniques we learnt and I will speak about the results in a year. Although I think there are still many things to be learnt about the media management, this course gave us at least an overview of what and how should be done in order to enhance our business. As far as I am concerned, I am interested in finding out how the media outlets are managed in practice, especially the online media”.
 
Tatiana Bunduchi, “Teleradio-Moldova” Company: “No similar reports were developed over the past years”

The workshop on the “Financial sustainability of media institutions in the Republic of Moldova” was valuable for me in several ways. I consider it is necessary and relevant to develop a National Report on the financial sustainability of the media outlets in Moldova. No similar reports were developed over the past years. It is even more relevant, given that the financial situation of the media in Ukraine and Georgia was analysed in the same period. Two other activities are useful for me were – the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the media institutions in the country and drafting the business models for the media outlets. I will try to use both of them in my work as the Head of Programmes Subdivision in order to improve the financial situation of the media I work for”.

Ludmila Topal, Canal Regional: “The best result of this workshop consists in the fact that it enabled me to assess by myself the degree of financial sustainability of my TV station”

 “I enjoyed the very idea of ​​conducting such a workshop, as the issue of financial stability of the media is a topical one, particularly at the local and regional levels. Any manager could apply for this workshop, what is very important. I was interested from the start in the group of experts and in the agenda, which focussed less on theory, but more on practice. It was a good idea to divide the participants into groups for the practical exercises - it was an efficient method, given that the regional TV and radio stations have their particularities. In addition to it, it was useful to follow the presentation of the business models by other groups. For me, the best result of this workshop is that it enabled me to assess the degree of financial sustainability of my TV station, to identify the weaknesses and the strengths, to formulate the clients’ characteristics, to identify the potential clients for advertising and to submit a convincing information”.

Ecaterina Caracicovscaia, SPLENDID magazine: “Experts from different countries helped us to develop business models"

“I quite often attend various trainings and seminars. This workshop was useful due to the fact that together we sought solutions to the financial problems faced by the media. These problems are pressing for any type of media, including for the managers. Experts from different countries trained us in raising financial resources and developing business models. It was a very useful component of the workshop and I am persuaded that any of the participants highlighted some ideas for his/her job”.
 
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The event is organized within the project "Strengthening financial stability of the media outlets in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, using the experience of V4 Countries", funded by the International Visegrad Fund and USAID. The project is implemented by the Independent Journalism Centre, in partnership with the Association of Independent Broadcasters of Ukraine.