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Рy15 April 2014
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The new study, Mass Media Access to Information in Moldova: Problems and Perspectives, reveals that the “content analysis of requests for access to information sent by media outlets and organizations in Moldova in the period of 2012–2013 and the monitoring of replies received by them from public authorities revealed a number of deficiencies in the application of legislation.”
The study aimed at analyzing the current situation of mass media in terms of access to information, assessing the legal framework in Moldova in comparison with the good practices of access to information in the European Union, and examining the possible mechanisms of guaranteeing access to information in our country.
The results of the research showed that in about 1/3 of the examined cases the time limits set for replying to requests for access to information had been breached, and in 18% of cases applicants’ requests ended in refusal or no reply from public authorities.
On the other hand, the study authors found that only 14% of requests for access to information received by public authorities had come from media outlets. The relatively small number of requests for access to official information sent by media outlets is determined, according to the media outlets’ directors/editors-in-chief, by the development, over the last four years, of the process of opening public government data both on official websites and on the portal of public government data (date.gov.md), as well as by improvement of communication between the representatives of the press services of ministries and local public administration with mass media.
To optimize Moldova’s legal framework regulating mass media access to information, the study presents a number of recommendations, which include: modifying the procedure for registration of requests for access to information (registration into separate registers); reducing the time limits set for replies to requests for information of public interest from 15 working days to not more than 10 calendar days; upgrading penalties for failure to comply with the Law on Access to Information; clearly defining the notions of trade secret and state secret in the context of the Law on Access to Information; producing a guide to good practice for civil servants concerning uniform and correct application of the Law on Access to Information.
The study Mass Media Access to Information in Moldova: Problems and Perspectives has been produced by the experts of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) as part of the project on Strengthening the Legal Framework regulating Mass Media in Moldova, implemented by the IJC with the financial support of Civil Rights Defenders, Sweden.
The study can be accessed HERE.
The study aimed at analyzing the current situation of mass media in terms of access to information, assessing the legal framework in Moldova in comparison with the good practices of access to information in the European Union, and examining the possible mechanisms of guaranteeing access to information in our country.
The results of the research showed that in about 1/3 of the examined cases the time limits set for replying to requests for access to information had been breached, and in 18% of cases applicants’ requests ended in refusal or no reply from public authorities.
On the other hand, the study authors found that only 14% of requests for access to information received by public authorities had come from media outlets. The relatively small number of requests for access to official information sent by media outlets is determined, according to the media outlets’ directors/editors-in-chief, by the development, over the last four years, of the process of opening public government data both on official websites and on the portal of public government data (date.gov.md), as well as by improvement of communication between the representatives of the press services of ministries and local public administration with mass media.
To optimize Moldova’s legal framework regulating mass media access to information, the study presents a number of recommendations, which include: modifying the procedure for registration of requests for access to information (registration into separate registers); reducing the time limits set for replies to requests for information of public interest from 15 working days to not more than 10 calendar days; upgrading penalties for failure to comply with the Law on Access to Information; clearly defining the notions of trade secret and state secret in the context of the Law on Access to Information; producing a guide to good practice for civil servants concerning uniform and correct application of the Law on Access to Information.
The study Mass Media Access to Information in Moldova: Problems and Perspectives has been produced by the experts of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) as part of the project on Strengthening the Legal Framework regulating Mass Media in Moldova, implemented by the IJC with the financial support of Civil Rights Defenders, Sweden.
The study can be accessed HERE.
