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Vitalie Gutu, host of the Mesager newscast on national television Moldova 1, spoke in an interview for Media Azi about the retransmission of the channel in Romania, about the reform of TRM [the Teleradio Moldova company], and about the journalists’ work in the year of elections.
When will Moldova 1 begin broadcasting in Romania? Will it be rebroadcast fully or in part?
We don’t know exactly when it will happen. The governments have signed an agreement, and technical details will follow. Cable operators in Romania must receive the national television of Moldova and include it into their packages. Regarding the second question, the channel will be retransmitted 24 hours a day. So far, before the agreement was signed, TVR used to broadcast only the Mesager newscast of Moldova 1 at 05.00 in the morning on TVR 2.
Now, a sort of exchange is taking place, because cable operators in Moldova also introduced TVR into their packages. It is called TVR pentru Tine [TVR for you] and is intended for Moldova. The channel broadcasts programs not only from TVR, but also from TVR 1, 2, 3 – from all TVRs.
The Romanian TVR has been producing special programs for Moldovans since it returned onto the local market. Will Moldova 1 do the same for the Romanian public?
I don’t know. All I know is that a delegation of the Romanian Radio and Television Society is going to come to Chisinau before spring to discuss with the administration of the Moldova 1 company and decide if it will be doing programs for Romanians or if it will be only rebroadcast by cable.
TVR was supposed to open a studio in Chisinau. Is there any information about that?
It is yet unknown when exactly it will be created. It is known, however, that in 2014 the basis of that office will be set. At least it is the intention of the Romanian side, and the rest depends on Moldova. As I said, the Romanian delegation is going to come, and it will decide about the location of the office. Initially there were talks that Moldova 1 would provide premises for the office – some studios, shooting sets for TVR. I don’t know at what stage the talks are: negotiations are held by the management.
Does Moldova 1, in its turn, intend to open such an office in Romania?
I think it doesn’t, as we are quite poor! I haven’t heard of that. Moldova 1 should be happy with the fact that it will be on the other side of the Prut and that it will be included into the cable offers for Romanian citizens. Opening an office there is too much and too expensive for the company’s budget.
What is the atmosphere at the television now? How do people in the editorial office feel now that the channel is going to be seen by a much more numerous public?
Much more numerous and, in my opinion, much more refined. So far, the atmosphere is as it used to be. I think that once the programs of Moldova 1 are broadcast in Romania, one of the television’s objectives will be to increase the quality of its programs, according to European principles. I agree that some media products of Moldova 1 are incompatible with the best standards.
Moldova has entered a year of elections. What are your expectations in terms of editorial policies?
The editorial policy of Moldova 1 is based on transparency, balance, diversity of opinions. I believe that this year and in the future this policy will be maintained. Because it is a public television and it is dedicated to people, and not to politicians, even though it is a year of elections.
What about mass media in general?
It will be a difficult and decisive year. Politicians will be fighting for Moldova to join the big European family. Mass media, I think, will have the rationality and principles to present materials in a neutral manner and not impose their opinions. However, every media outlet has its own editorial policy and does as is told by the owner.
What is happening with the long-awaited reform of the TRM?
Reform at TRM has been put in place I think for already three years. It is at its end. I don’t know how tangible the results of this reform are, as the majority of employees were and still are against some aspects of the reform, especially the salary payment system.
Why are they against?
Because they used to have a fixed salary of 3,000 lei, and they also were paid for each program, report. These additional payments disappeared with the reform. They have been given well-established fixed salaries. Now you get 4,000 lei and do your work with no additional payment. Although some loyalty bonuses were set to be paid every three months. However, so far no one saw them, these bonuses, since not all TV departments underwent the reform.
What do you think about the new working conditions for journalists in the Parliament – the so-called “corral” for the press?
I found out yesterday that journalists and televisions will have no access to the Parliament’s meeting rooms and that it will be giving video recordings to media outlets. I don’t think it is a beneficial gesture. Every television has its own goal and wants different records, maybe with other Members of Parliament than those given by the Parliament’s production department. However, this special room for the press is OK, as such practices are applied in other countries, too. For example, in Romania, in the Senate and Chamber of Representatives, journalists have no access to meeting rooms, but they can speak with MPs during breaks or at the end of meetings, they have access to halls.
