A series of workshops for central and local government PR officers was organized by the Chisinau-based Acces-Info Center as part of a 16-month monitoring and training project. The workshops focused on the current institutional practices in implementing the Law on Access to Information, challenges encountered in the process, as well as prospects for improving rapport between public institutions on the one hand and society at large, the non-governmental organization, and the news media on the other. The agenda also focused on ways of improving communication between different public administration bodies. Workshops are part of a joint program carried out by Acces-Info and a government working group charged with ensuring access to information. The program also includes a series of trainings for local media outlets, students of journalism and law, representatives of local public bodies, librarians, members of the judiciary, as well as small- business representatives. In April-May, Acces-Info plans to organize a series of public debates on these issues across the country. Some 1,800 persons are expected to benefit from the program. Along with training, public institutions will be offered new information resources. Financial support for the project has been provided by Soros Foundation-Moldova and the Open Society Institute(OSI)-Budapest (ACCES-Info).

A variety of research, advocacy and training activities have been planned by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) for the first half of the year 2007. Thus, the IJC plans to organize monthly meetings of the Chisinau Press Club to discuss key developments in Moldovan society, as well as issues relevant to journalists’ professional activity. It will launch a competition for the best reporting about UN activities and will host the annual Press Freedom Days. The IJC will carry a comprehensive assessment of mass media needs throughout the country. The Center will continue the production and broadcasting of syndicated TV and radio programs on human-trafficking prevention, along with the publication of syndicated articles on the issue. It will continue to monitor the mainstream print media to identify major trends in covering human trafficking and combating the phenomenon. The best articles on the issue will be published in a brochure. In the framework of the anti-trafficking project, the IJC will also offer internships for young women at local media outlets. In 2007, the IJC will also carry a vast array of freedom-of-expression and access-to-information activities. Major highlights include publication of the annual report on freedom of expression in Moldova, along with regular media-law bulletins. Similar to 2006, the IJC will provide free legal assistance to journalists (including in-court representation) on issues related to freedom of expression and journalists’ professional rights. Twenty students of the IJC School of Advanced Journalism will continue hands-on classes under the guidance of local and foreign media experts. The IJC will continue producing the online portal “Moldova Azi” and the publication of the bi-annual trade journal “Mass Media in Moldova.” Financial support for these activities has been pledged by the USAID through Winrock International, the UN and OSCE missions in Moldova, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) from the U.S. and MATRA programme of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through Press Now (IJC).

Mariana Slapac, vice-president of the Moldovan Academy of Sciences, became the new president of the Observers’ Council of the national public broadcaster Teleradio Moldova, while Anatol Dubrovschi, director of “Casa Presei” (The Press House) government real estate complex, became its secretary. Both were elected by a five-to-four vote. Those voting against cited procedural irregularities, and namely absence of approved council statutes that would have served as a legal basis for the elections. The nine-member Observers’ Council was approved by Moldovan Parliament in December 2006. Members were elected for terms ranging from two to four years. Slapac has a four-year mandate, whereas Dubrovschi – a three-year one. Under the 2006 Broadcast Code, the Observers’ Council is charged with electing the president of the public broadcaster, along with the directors of Radio Moldova and TV Moldova, approving the company’s statutes and supervising its editorial and financial activity (Monitor Media, Reporter.md, IJC).

Two little-known physical persons won the tenders that had been organized by the Chisinau municipal council to privatize “Antena C” and “Euro TV Chisinau” stations. Igor Boldureanu, the former press officer at the Moldovan Interior Ministry, became the new owner of “Euro TV Chisinau.” He has paid MDL 2 million (ca USD 153,850) and pledged another MDL 25.5 million (ca USD 1,923,080) in direct investments. Boldureanu won the competition against “Music Master,” a holding that owns “Radio Noroc,” a recording studio and several music stores. Practically nothing is known about Dumitru Luticov, the new owner of “Antena C Radio,” who has paid MDL 1.05 million (ca USD 80,800) and pledged MDL 3 million (USD 230,770) in investments over the next three years. The staff of the two stations called the sale “illegal.” Following the December decision to tender out the frequencies of the stations, the municipal authorities suspended the broadcasts of “Antena C Radio.” The move was deplored by both Moldovan and international media watchdogs. In a public statement, the New York-based Center to Protect Journalists (CPJ) deplored the suspension of broadcasts of the station, which had often aired critical reports. “Antena C” is an important source of objective news for Moldovans, especially now as the election approaches,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “The government’s vague and shifting explanations make it hard to see this as anything but a politically motivated effort to shut down an objective news source“, Simon added. CPJ called on authorities to restore “Antena C” to the air. Broadcasting resumed only after the tender was finalized. In a separate declaration, nine media development organizations from Moldova lashed out against the authorities for violating the right to freedom of expression in the case of Antena C and Euro TV Chisinau. Local elections are scheduled for May (IJC, Monitor Media).

Plans to cease state funding of the media in the Gagauz Yeri autonomous region were announced by Mihail Formuzal, the newly-elected governor of the region. In an interview with “Monitor Media,” Formuzal said that at present journalists “are not motivated to put out high-quality products, because no matter how well or badly they work, they still get paid from the state subsidies.” In 2006 alone, the region’s media received in excess of MDL 2.5 million (more than EURO 147,000) from the region’s budget. According to Formuzal, the reform aims to motivate the media community in the region to create sustainable news outlets. The Gagauz governor said the authorities plan to facilitate the development of competitive news media, and during the transition period will cooperate with the media institutions in looking for grants and investments. The plans were welcomed by the Association of Independent Press (API), a media development NGO that had long called for privatization of state-supported local media. In a statement released to the public, API called on all other representatives of local and regional public authorities to launch similar programs. Nevertheless, API alerted the authorities about the need to ensure transparency in the process of privatization and to respect the rights of journalists (Monitor Media, API, Infotag).

A TV channel aiming to promote the image of Moldova abroad and cater to the information needs of Moldovan diaspora was launched under the auspices of the national public broadcaster “Teleradio Moldova.” According to Ludmila Barba, director of “TV Moldova International,” the new channel offers two hours of original programming every day. Broadcasts are carried out via EUTELSAT for a monthly fee of EURO 9,000. The Broadcasting Coordinating Council (CCA) has publicly criticized the channel’s management for having launched satellite broadcasts without getting a proper license. In an interview with the BBC Chisinau office, Barba said all the necessary documents had been gathered and would be submitted to the CCA. In other developments, Teleradio Moldova launched Internet broadcasts of “Radio Moldova International”, which had been suspended in 2006 (BBC Chisinau, IJC).

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favor of the newspaper “Kommersant Moldovy” and ordered the Moldovan authorities to pay EURO 8,000 in respect of pecuniary damage, as well as EURO 1,500 for costs and expenses. In 2002, the paper sued the Moldovan authorities for violating its right to freedom of expression by ordering its closure. The Economic Court of Moldova ordered the closure of the newspaper after “Kommersant Moldovy” published a series of articles criticizing the country’s authorities for their actions with regard to the breakaway region of Transnistria. The court considered that the articles had endangered the territorial integrity of Moldova and created the potential for disorder and crime. The newspaper was subsequently re-registered under the name “Kommersant-Plus.” According to ECHR, the domestic courts had not specified which elements of the applicants’ articles were problematic and in what way they endangered national security and territorial integrity of the country. The ECHR unanimously ruled that there had been a violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. For more information about the case, visit http://www.echr.coe.int (ECHR, IJC).

The first semester at the newly-opened Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism culminated with the publication of two community newspapers. The broadsheet “Evenimentul Central” (Central Event) and “Curier de Botanica” (Botanica’s Courier) were produced by students under the supervision of experienced media professionals. Work in the student newsroom followed courses on news basics, ethics and media law, as well as photojournalism and community reporting. In the first semester, students also had classes in TV and radio journalism. A joint project of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), the Missouri School of Journalism, Press Now from the Netherlands and the Paris-based CFPJ journalists’ training center, the school offers a 10-month, hands-on, graduate-level program in journalism. Twenty students from various parts of Moldova, including Transnistria and the Gagauz Yeri autonomous region, started course work in September. In the second semester, they will have classes in online journalism and computer-assisted reporting, covering business and economic policy, visual journalism, election reporting, investigative reporting and covering the European Union. Students will work on long-form print journalism formats, will hone their skills in radio and TV journalism and will learn aspects of media management. Course work will be followed by a four-week internship and a professional project. School activities are supported by grants from the U.S. State Department, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the MATRA program of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British and the French Embassies in Chisinau, the French Embassy in Bucharest, and the OSCE Mission to Moldova. The two community newspapers, which carry articles in Romanian and Russian accompanied by student photos, can be accessed at http://scoaladejurnalism.md/news_04.php . For more information about the project, contact Vitalie Dogaru, the school academic coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (IJC).

The December issue of “Mass Media in Moldova,” a bi-annual magazine published by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), can be accessed online at http://ijc.md/bulmm/. The latest issue features analyses of the new Broadcast Code and the EU regulations on transparency and access to information. Among other highlights are articles about the School of Advanced Journalism, which was recently opened in Chisinau, stories on prospects of developing cable television in Moldova, on the role of journalists in conflict-resolution and on challenges they face in relations with the authorities. Special sections are devoted to the analysis of the current state of photojournalism and sports reporting in the country. The magazine also carries an interview with the manager of a successful regional publication. The IJC has been producing “Mass Media in Moldova” since 1995. This is the only trade journal for Moldovan media professionals, which is published on a regular basis. Currently, it is produced in Romanian, Russian and English. In 2006, the publication has been supported by grants from the British Government’s Global Russia-CIS Conflict Prevention Pool and the German program Media-im-Pakt/ Media Support for South Eastern Europe/IFA (IJC).

 

TRANSLATION OF TWO MEDIA RESOURCE BOOKS PUBLISHED BY IJC (5 January)

The Romanian-language versions of the “Guidelines for Broadcast Regulation” by Eve Salomon and the Council of Europe’s “Internet Literacy Handbook” have been produced by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC). Initially published by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association with support from UNESCO, the Guidelines aim to help new and existing regulators to identify ways in which public service broadcasting can be preserved and strengthened, within the context of a varied and commercially viable industry. The second book is comprised of 21 fact sheets, each covering a particular topic on Internet use, from searching for information to setting up blogs through to e-shopping and e-citizenship. The translation project has been carried out with financial support from the German government’s program Media-im-Pakt - Media Support for South Eastern Europe/IFA. Books are distributed for free by the IJC and are also available online at the IJC Website: http://ijc.md/centrul_de_resurse/bibl_el.php . For more information about the project, please contact Olivia Pirtac, IJC Media Law Unit coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (IJC).