Ro
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Рy24 March 2015
1486 reads
Vasile MUNTEANU, reporter, Moldova 1 TV Channel
Even if journalists can adapt to any conditions when they need to get accurate information to be shared with the people, it has become more and more complicated to work in Parliament lately. In fact, we do not enjoy basic working conditions. Yes, there are two screens and we have access to the Internet, a special stand was provided for press statements (many MPs do not use it though), but... We still lack accurate information about what is really happening in the meeting room. We do not know, in fact, why some bills are adopted and others are rejected by the MPs. It is not only crowded and uncomfortable to work in the so-called 'press fold', but there is also a feeling that the lawmakers distrust us and share with us only those moments in their work and those video recordings that show them in a good light.
We believe it to be a covert form of censorship. The main value and virtue of the press is freedom, a principle that cannot be violated, not even by the lawmakers, especially if they claim to have embraced democratic pro-European ideas.
In recent years, Moldova achieved progress in terms of press freedom, but there is still much room for improvement. Parliament is the representative body of the country. People need to know what their delegates to Parliament do and how they use their powers to defend the people’s interests. We, the media, are the bridge between the elected officials and the people.
We believe it to be a covert form of censorship. The main value and virtue of the press is freedom, a principle that cannot be violated, not even by the lawmakers, especially if they claim to have embraced democratic pro-European ideas.
In recent years, Moldova achieved progress in terms of press freedom, but there is still much room for improvement. Parliament is the representative body of the country. People need to know what their delegates to Parliament do and how they use their powers to defend the people’s interests. We, the media, are the bridge between the elected officials and the people.
NOTE: the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) holds awareness raising events under the slogan "We Want Access into Parliament!" on all days when Parliament holds plenary meetings. The Campaign aims to ensure free access of the media to Parliament meetings, so that the media can freely perform their duties.
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The We Want into Parliament! campaign is conducted within the Advocacy Campaigns Aimed at Improving Transparency of Media Ownership, Access to Information and Promotion of EU Values and Integration project, implemented by the IJC, which is, in its turn, part of the Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society project, implemented by FHI 360.
Photo Source: Mircea Zatushevski
