Media Publishers Disagree With the Tariffs and Conditions Imposed by "Posta Moldovei"

The managers of periodicals are dissatisfied with their relations with the "Posta Moldovei" State Enterprise, which forces them to sign contracts that bring them no economic benefits, and recently has been requiring them to pay an additional fee of 15 bani for the packaging of each copy of a newspaper/magazine. These claims have been voiced at the round table discussion with the title "Critical Situation of Print Media in Moldova," organized by the Association of Independent Press (AIP) on Friday, May 5. Representatives of "Posta Moldovei", the Government, the Parliament, and Chisinau Mayor's Office did not respond to invitations to the event.

Journalists from print media have highlighted several problems in their collaboration with this institution: contracts that are unprofitable for the media; additional fees for the packaging of newspapers; delayed distribution of newspapers; debt to media outlets resulting from non-transfer of the money that come from subscribers; poor quality of postal services; and other factors that have recently emerged during the reorganization of "Posta Moldovei".

According to Petru Macovei, Executive Director of the AIP, the standard contract imposed on publishers is "discriminating", and in the examination of requests to solve these problems the Government and its structures do not take into account the outlets' complaints.

At the same time, the managers of newspapers have drawn attention to the fact that in recent years the dialogue between the enterprise and them has worsened, and the contractual provisions offered by "Posta Moldovei" are not discussed and agreed with them. "Newspaper distributors, including "Posta Moldovei", take about 40% of a newspaper's cost for distribution... Well, let's say that the outlets agreed to pay this money – why are then newspapers delivered late, many of them being damaged or not reaching readers as they are lost in the process? What is the sense in taking 40% of a newspaper's price and then delivering it in three or four days?" wonders Alina Radu, director of the "Ziarul de Garda" newspaper.

In the same line of thought, Tudor Iascenco, director of the weekly "Cuvantul" from Rezina, said that informing the people is the duty not only of journalists, but also of "Posta Moldovei", which, as a public institution, had been created specifically to work for the interest of readers. "Here, we might conclude that the current government simply wants to destroy non-affiliated press... and to leave provision of information to the public entirely at the mercy of those in power," he noted.

According to Victor Cobasneanu, editor of the "Observatorul de Nord" newspaper, "Posta Moldovei" no longer wishes to distribute newspapers and magazines, because "today it is probably more profitable to deliver bills," and the central authorities are the ones to blame for this.

At the end of the discussion, participants formulated some recommendations for authorities, including: the Parliamentary Commission on the Media should organize parliamentary hearings regarding the activities of "Posta Moldovei" and the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (MITC) in terms of distribution of print media and retailing; the MITC should create an advisory council for "Posta Moldovei", with the participation of representatives of civil society and interested parties; a strategy for the development of the media in Moldova in general should be developed, with a special chapter for print media, etc.