The press in Moldova became dangerous and is even more dangerous than useful. Given that it is captivating, it can be used as a manipulating instrument. Among the problems faced by the press are the disappearance of dailies and the weight of publications in the Russian language. The concerns were stated in the third Media Forum that started in Chisinau on November 14, IPN reports.
Attending the event, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Peter Michalko said that eight years ago, when he was in the Republic of Moldova, he used to read a daily each morning. When he returned to the country, he was disappointed to find no dailies in kiosks in Chisinau. The people want to have access to information in different forms and it is important to ensure the existence of print and online media, of radio and TV stations. The free media are the pillar of a democratic society and the European Union offers a lot of support for developing the press in Moldova. “We know the difficult economic situation of the mass media in Moldova and that’s why say that pluralism is very important. It is also important for the mass media not to consist of a static number of newspapers, radio stations and to also have new offers on the media market, a continuous process of offers for the population,” stated Peter Michalko.
Germany’s Ambassador to Moldova Julia Monar said she was also surprised to learn about the disappearance of dailies in Moldova and about the fact that only 20% of Moldovans read newspapers. In Germany, this figure stands at 45%. The print media is not very attractive in Moldova, but the radio and TV stations are powerful sources of information. Transparency and freedom should be ensured in the media sector.
Dutch Ambassador in Chisinau Stella Ronner-Grubacic noted that the domination of the Russian language is the biggest challenge for the press in Moldova. Also, the lack of confidence in journalists hinders society from advancing on the path of democratization of the state. The Netherlands will continue to support Moldova on the path of democracy and independent journalism.
Attending the event, Head of Parliament Andrian Candu said the press should not serve a particular person, but should serve the truth, the freedom of thinking and the freedom of choice. The press should serve society. Lack of solidarity in the journalistic community and in the dialogue with the authorities has been noticed lately. The legislative body is ready to accept proposals for developing the local press from journalists and experts.
More than 170 invitees, among whom journalists, ambassadors and media experts, are taking part in the two-day Media Forum 2017. The challenges faced by journalists in Moldova and the solutions for ensuring free press will be discussed within a number of thematic workshops that will involve experts from Germany, the U.S., Poland, Israel, Romania and other countries.
