In Moldova SUMMARY
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December 2019 in Moldova SUMMARY MEDIA CONCENTRATION Vitalie CALUGAREANU 1 The Failure of Media Demonopolization LETTER OF THE LAW Tatiana PUIU 3 It Seems that in Moldova It Is Possible “to Postpone the Future” in the Field of Media Legislation PRESS AND SOCIETY Gheorghe BUDEANU 6 Who Defends the Journalist? About a Trade Union Protecting Against Professional Shocks COMMUNICATION Cristian JARDAN 8 The relationship Between the Press and the Authorities: How Should We Reform It to Exclude Selective Communication? AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA Aneta GONTA 10 Moldovan televisions: post-election metamorphoses INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM Alina RADU 12 How Much Does Access to Information Cost In Terms of Years and Money? INTERVIEW Irina GOTISAN 15 Loretta Handrabura: “The Observance of Gender Balance Regarding Sources, Protagonists and Topics Addressed Is Not Just Preferable but Compulsory for Journalists” LOCAL MEDIA Lucia BACALU 18 Regional Print Media: Where Is It Going? NEW MEDIA Stela JEMNA 21 Podcast: An Innovation That Has Transformed Journalism REVIEW Ludmila LAZAR 23 Searching for a New Economic and Democratic Model for Media ANEXES 26 Monitoring Report “Elements of Propaganda, Disinformation, and Violation of Journalism Ethics in the Local Media Space” (July 1–September 29, 2019) 27 Public Discourse of Candidates from a Gender Perspective in the New Parliamentary Elections in Single-Member Districts no. 17, 33, 48, and 50 december 2019 Media Concentration The Failure of Media Demonopolization The Broadcasting Council (BC) boasts on its official site prevent Igor Dodon in any way from strengthening his about “being, the representative and guarantor of the media empire today? No. The amendment of the legislation public interest in the broadcasting field.” Grotesque! For didn’t have the expected results. By using political leverage, several months, we have been witnessing the migration of the media owners did nothing but pass the licenses on media power from Plahotniuc to Dodon with the direct to intermediaries, some of whom are fake owners. For agreement and involvement of the BC which remained example, Vlad Plahotniuc gave his counselor Oleg Cristal intact after the fall of the regime in June 2019. The famous two of the four television stations with national coverage петёркэ (Russian for five) simply passed to the control that he owned. In other words, these measures, designed of another political master. I allow myself to use this to bring more transparency have proved to be insufficient Russian word because this is how we know this “group” of given that we have politicians who cheat. Good faith in members of the BC that is able to vote for, in my opinion, Moldovan politics provokes laughter. even moving the Himalayan Mountains to Park Valea Trandafirilor [Valley of Roses] in Chisinau. The audiovisual space has to all intents and purposes been divided between the great wirepullers. Let’s not forget that First, at the end of October 2019, the BC approved the in September 2018, Ilan Sor, who was convicted in the change of the name of Accent TV, a television broadcaster first instance, obtained a media trust. He would allegedly affiliated with the socialist party, to Primul in Moldova control Orhei TV and Central Television—formerly Alt TV which was to retransmit the content of station Pervii Kanal and Euro TV. Private ownership in media is necessary and from Russia. When asked during a TV show about the good when there are rules that are observed, not evaded. reason for taking the channel from Plahotniuc, Dodon Otherwise the effect is evil, and the media is transformed said, “Do you think it would have been better to leave it to into a kind of annex of political interests and journalists him?”, a reaction that must be transcribed and engraved are paid to generate or maintain political battles that have on the occasion of Press Freedom Days. Then, at the no connection with their true mission. beginning of November, the BC issued a broadcasting license for station Accent TV. Thus, the holding that And now, how do we get out of this closed circle? The state served Plahotniuc has been weakening while the holding has the necessary tools, but we cannot rely on the fact that of Dodon is gaining positions with the help of the BC it will apply them. The state will not apply them precisely which pretends to be the “representative and guarantor because the interest of the politicians who press the buttons of the public interest in the broadcasting field.” For now, of power is to make journalists as dependent on media the holding of Dodon comprises four TV stations, but owners as possible and the owners as dependent as possible probably a few more will join. The BC has announced a on them, the politicians. Who, under these circumstances, contest for two state frequencies released by stations Prime can assume the difficult task of convincing journalists that and Canal 2. Naive people still think that the frequency of they do not have the same interests as the owners? NGOs, Canal 2 will be returned to TVR (Romanian TV). I don’t journalism faculties and external funders do not have that believe it, but I would like to see how, under the leadership much power. All of them provide opportunities for those of Dodon (after the dismissal of the government led by who want to continue to be journalists; however, they do Maia Sandu), this frequency will be managed by TVR. not offer any protection against the temptations coming from the politicians and their “moguls.” What has changed in the landscape of audiovisual media in the Republic of Moldova after the entry into force of the An EU report on media concentration and pluralism has obligation to publish the names of the owners of media come up with some solutions. One of them would be to outlets in March 2015? Did the limit of “no more than appoint an ombudsman to protect the media. The authors two” broadcast licenses per owner (February 2016) force also suggest adopting an editorial handbook that would, Plahotniuc in a certain way to give up control of his famous “prevent external owners, shareholders or bodies, such as propagandistic holding by June 2019? Do these restrictions governments, from influencing the content of the news.” analytical magazine 1 Media Concentration december 2019 Another solution would be to define conflict of interest in leave them a quota of his shares when chased from power such a way to prevent media moguls from holding political and out of the country. positions. Would these recommendations function at present in the Republic of Moldova? In the absence of good After the fall of the former regime, it was a mistake to faith, it’s less than likely. leave the broadcasting field to the discretion of people still waiting for a hidden offer from their new boss. The offer The only solution that we have is to educate the public, was not long in coming. This “lethal weapon” which shapes and this is a long-term process. It may take decades for the minds of people in the long run was left in the hands people to get used to consuming quality journalistic of Igor Dodon. At present, “the guarantor of sovereignty” products and boycotting lies that are beautifully packaged. with the help of the “representative and guarantor of the The question is how do we do this given that people are public interest in the broadcasting field” is beginning to used to consuming products based on their packaging, to build the infrastructure that is necessary to maintain power listening for beautiful lies and to being told what they want in the long run. The back office staff have also begun to to hear? The solution that has been tested by all developed jump off the sinking ship of the former regime and make democracies is pluralism—a market that is not obstructed themselves useful on the new ship which has readily by political factors using administrative leverage (such as taken them on board. They manipulate, and their style is the BC and the Competition Council) and that provides as unique. The statement of EU spokesman Maja Kocijancic many people as possible with access to quality journalistic after the dismissal of the government led by Maia Sandu products that they enjoy. In one way or another, we should summed the situation up nicely: They are ready-made educate the taste of the public for quality media products propagandists. They are not even waiting for censorship. and make those who offer subjective packaging use their They anticipate it. propagandistic charms on their politically affiliated owners. Another aspect that was ignored by all of us until now is the concentration of rural media. This is a new This process has been started by NGOs through projects trend for us. In this case we are talking not only about that benefited from external support, but there are no television stations, but also about online portals and radio premises that allow for its extension. Prime Minister Maia stations. The situation of these media outlets is worthy Sandu criticized Igor Dodon at the Media Forum for of a thorough analysis. What is known is that many of subordinating old and new media outlets and condemned these media outlets exist thanks to grants from various the precarious state of the free media and was dismissed. external donors; however, there are media barons at the We have to be prepared again for tough days! Freedom will local level who use these institutions primarily during be limited, and frustrated politicians will try to punish the election campaigns. This is not about normal electoral free media and journalists.