A number of media NGOs and media institutions this week are celebrating the Press Freedom Days by a series of events aimed at raising the people’s and government’s awareness of the necessity of having free and correct media. The events will be held under the slogan “The press and the people demand: Stop corruption!”.

In a news conference at IPN, Nadine Gogu, director of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), said the events are designed to sensitize society to the state of affairs in the mass media sector. The events organized by the Center include a demonstration before Parliament Building, entitled “Shame table: Enemies of the media May 2014 – May 2015”.

Nadine Gogu also said that they earlier issue a petition by which they demanded that the journalists delegated to report from Parliament should be allowed to enter the assembly hall, but the government didn’t react. Therefore, the IJC throughout May will carry out the campaign “We want access to Parliament”, within which a new petition will be signed and sent to the Parliament’s administration.

Petru Macovei, executive director of the Association of Independent Press (API), said that since 1992 until now 1,122 journalists were killed worldwide because of their profession. Though no killings were committed in Moldova, journalists’ safety is in danger as these are physically and verbally attacked by the power. Now the quality of journalism in the country is practically at the level left by the Communist government.

Therefore, the API also stages events to mark the Press Freedom Days this week. The Association produced a series of materials centering on the freedom of the media and will publish them on api.md from where they can be disseminated by media outlets. The API also intends to publish a thematic page on the same issue in national newspapers.

Ion Bunduchi, executive director of the Electronic Press Association (APEL), said the freedom of the press in the world is celebrated during one day, while in Moldova it is marked during a longer period of time so as to attract more freedom for the Moldovan media. On May 6, APEL, in cooperation with Canal Regional, stages a telemarathon within which there will be debated the theme “Media pluralism”.

In the period, a number of media institutions and NGOs will hold meetings with the people and will stage open doors days at local media outlets.