The mass media in the Republic of Moldova are considered politically controlled and influenced, while the journalists, even if they are well trained, are considered to be politically affiliated and thus most often promote the interests of politicians and media outlet owners and less of the people by the produced content. The developments and preferences concerning the mass media in the Republic of Moldova were presented in a news conference at IPN on March 19. The study was commissioned by the Association for Development and Cooperation to the Institute of Marketing and Polls (IMAS).
According to IMAS director Doru Petrutsi, only 3% of the Moldovans are very satisfied with the state of affairs in the mass media sector. 37% said they are rather satisfied. Only 3% of those polled consider the mass media are fully independent, 12% said they are rather independent, while almost 60% believe the mass media are dependent. Half of the respondents said the mass media reflect more the interests of politicians, 15% the commercial interests of the owner, while 10% consider the mass media reflect the interests of the ordinary people. In generals, the people feel less represented and defended by the mass media.
Association for Development and Cooperation executive director Dumitru Tira said the TV viewers do not feel the TV channels’ care of them, mainly owing to the disappearance of social campaigns through which the channels intervened to solve private problems as well.
The survey also shows that 73% of the Moldovans are satisfied with what they see in the mass media versus the reality and only 1% of the respondents said what the mass media in Moldova present corresponds to the reality to a great extent, while 21% said it mainly corresponds.
The Moldovans are concerned about the fact that the media outlets are corrupt (58%). Some 44% of those polled said the mass media act by order of countries or foreign organizations. 35% consider the media outlets provide completely false information.
The poll covered a sample of 1,513 people aged over 18 from 96 communities and was carried out during February 9 and March 4, 2018. This was conducted with the support of Sweden and the United States.
