Press Council founded in Moldova

Six mass media, human rights and public policy nongovernmental organizations created the Press Council of Moldova, which will regulate the mass media sector, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communique from the founders. The Press Council aims to make the press more responsible towards the readers by promoting the observance of the professional standards and journalistic deontological norms, solving the disputes between the readers and publications, cultivating the culture of dialogue and mutual respect between the press and the consumer of information, increasing credibility of mass media. The Council will be independent from the public administration, political power, business community and other groups of interest. It will consist of nine persons. Four members will represent the journalistic sector, while five – the media consumers. The representatives of the journalistic guild will be proposed by the editorial offices of publications (news agencies, portals), professional journalism organizations and other public media associations, including media employers. The candidates that will represent the media consumers will be fielded by readers, public associations working in different areas, including trade union organizations, employers, religious and political organizations. The members of the Press Council will be selected by a representative commission. The website www.consiliuldepresa.md will be launched soon. It will provide informational about the work of the Council. The founders of the Press Council of Moldova are: the Independent Press Association, the Independent Journalism Center, the Committee for the Freedom of the Press, the Journalists' Union of Moldova, the Resource Center for Human Rights “Credo” and the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”.