Non-governmental organizations in the field of mass media are petitioning the Government of the Republic of Moldova to preserve the traditional designation of the “Press House” complex in Chișinău, and to stop the rise of rent prices set for editorials headquartered on its premises. The NGOs have issued a statement mentioning the intention of the executive body to reorganize the Government’s Directorate for General Building Management, which will, among other things, grant this Directorate management of the “Press House” complex. Some editors and journalists have estimated that, after reorganization, rent prices in the building will rise again, and the building itself might be put up for private purchase, IPN reports.
Signee organizations ask the Government to guarantee, in the process of a potential reorganization, preservation of the traditional designation of the “Press House”, that is a place that hosts editorials and mass media institutions. Furthermore, they request a ban on the private purchase of the “Press House” building and on increases to rent prices. The statement signees point out the Parliament’s assumed responsibility for improving operation conditions for the mass media, and the Work Group for the Improvement of Mass Media Legislation has issued legislative proposals that grant such improvements, including through diminished rental costs in publicly administrated buildings.
“Since last century’s 70s, the “Press House” has had a special designation for print press institutions, offering space for newspapers, magazines, the state information agency “Moldpres”, for the Journalists’ Union, and other divisions and structures related to journalistic work. Over the years, the existence of such a building has acted as a symbol of the importance of the journalist profession in Moldova. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the traditional designation of a “home for the press” has shifted, and preceding administrators of this state enterprise have exploited the building for commercial purposes. Hence, several editorials have had to move their headquarters to other buildings, due to unsatisfactory conditions and exaggerated rent costs,” reads the statement.
Mass media NGOs mention the need for public talks to identify legal solutions that would “return” the “Press House” complex to the journalist community of Moldova, allowing for further specialized editorial activity, journalist professional training, and development of new media projects of public interest.
The statement signees are: the Association for Independent Press, the Independent Journalism Center, the Center for Investigative Journalism, the Association of Electronic Press, the Association of Investigative Reporters and Editorial Security, the Association of Independent Tele-journalists, the Press Freedom Committee, and the “Acces-info” Center.
