Monthly Bulletin, July 2024
In a press statement, seven non-governmental media organizations, including the Independent Journalism Center, the Independent Press Association and the Media Guard Association, condemned the behavior of Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban and his team to restrict access to information of public interest to reporter Felicia Ganev of Ziarul de Gardă (ZdG). On June 26, the ZdG team went to Chisinau City Hall to request information on infrastructure projects implemented over the past five years. Previously, the editorial staff had asked for this data, but it was not provided by the municipality, even though 22 days had passed since the request was sent. Mayor Ion Ceban asked the journalist insulting questions, while the mayor’s spokeswoman Natalia Ixari denied that she had received ZDG’s request for information at the City Hall. To suggest that she did not want to be filmed, Natalia Ixari covered the reporter’s microphone with her hand and removed it. The signatories of the statement condemn the use of intimidation and hostile behavior toward the press, calling on the Mayor General of the Chisinau municipality and his spokesperson to stop such practices. At the same time, the signatory organizations call on law enforcement bodies to hold accountable the perpetrators of hate speech and insults against ZdG journalists. |
TV broadcasts of the Olympic Games in Paris, where Moldova is represented by 26 athletes, have been criticized by viewers and Internet users, who have complained that they cannot watch some competitions live. Some wondered why the public broadcaster was not broadcasting the Olympics, while others criticized TVR Moldova, which is responsible for live broadcasting across the country, for not showing judo athlete Denis Vieru, who won a bronze medal for Moldova. Vlad Turcanu, the director of Teleradio-Moldova, said on his FB page that the TV rights of the 2024 Olympic Games belong to Romanian Television, which broadcasts them on the territory of the Republic of Moldova through TVR Moldova. In his turn, the director of TVR Moldova, Nicolae Mocanu, emphasized for the portal of the Independent Journalism Center, Media Azi, that in the case of the bronze medalist Denis Vieru, it was a “technical error”, which was corrected in the subsequent competitions. |
The Council of Europe’s Access to Information Expert Group (AIG) has published its first assessment report on how the Republic of Moldova is implementing the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents, known as the Tromsø Convention. The report released on July 16 shows that the current legal framework is largely in line with international standards with room for improvement in some areas. The report analyzes in detail the Access to Information Act adopted in June 2023. According to the conclusions, the new legal framework largely corresponds to the provisions of the Tromsø Convention – the first binding international legal instrument recognizing a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities. The experts also found that the limitations to the right of access to information in the law are in line with all the interests listed in the Convention, such as national security, public order, crime prevention and protection of privacy. |
The authorities should provide more effective protection for journalists against intimidation and attacks and improve the legal framework for ensuring transparency of media ownership. The work of regulatory institutions also needs to be strengthened. These are the conclusions of the first independent monitoring report on Moldova’s progress in implementing the European Commission’s recommendations in the process of accession to the European Union. The document was launched in Chisinau on July 25. The report assesses the reforms carried out by the Chisinau government between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. With regard to freedom of expression, the authors note, among other things, that journalistic activity is not sufficiently protected from attacks, physical threats and intimidation in the online space, and that several such cases were recorded during the period under review, including in Gagauzia and Tiraspol. The report also notes that although there have been some developments in the media regulatory mechanisms during this period, they should be strengthened. In particular, the Press Council needs to be bolstered, the Code of Ethics needs to be improved and media outlets should develop their own internal codes or guidelines of ethics. |
The Republic of Moldova registers the most important progress on the “Security” dimension in the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations in the context of the European Union accession process, with an average score of 4.3 points out of 5. The findings are included in the first independent monitoring report on Moldova’s progress in this area. Among the achievements, the authors mention the adoption, on March 16, 2023, of the draft law on cybersecurity, the provisions of which will enter into force as of January 1, 2025. The law, drafted with the support of external partners, regulates the regulatory and institutional framework in the field of cybersecurity, delimiting the competences of the relevant institutions and establishing mechanisms for managing cybersecurity crises. The authors of the report recommend the authorities to strengthen the technical capacities and human resources of the National Agency for Cyber Security, to ensure effective institutional cooperation between the National Agency for Cyber Security, the Intelligence and Security Service and other governmental institutions, in order to identify and assess potential risks to the cyber security of the Republic of Moldova. |
The definition of disinformation in the Audiovisual Media Services Code should be revised, suggests a report by Freedom House in collaboration with media law and policy expert Deirdre Kevin. Contacted by Media Azi, the executive director of the Association of the Electronic Press (APEL), Ion Bunduchi, says that a better definition of disinformation will come about as we better understand the phenomenon itself. Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, chairwoman of the Parliament’s media committee, says the current definition “is lucrative and decisions can be taken on fines”. According to the MP, the new definition makes it possible to see very clearly whether there was an intention to misinform and whether the information endangers state security. “It can be seen very clearly and reasoned,” she believes. Currently, the legislation provides for fines ranging from 40,000 to 100,000 lei (2000 to 5000 euro) for broadcasters who broadcast content qualified as disinformation, as well as the possibility of suspending their broadcasting license for up to 7 days, provided that the fines are applied gradually in advance. Deirde Kevin points out in the study that these fines would be too high. On the other hand, media expert Ion Bunduchi argues that the penalties in this case should be “discouragingly high, similar to those for illegal content”. |
Media Legislation |
Reforma Art, the founding company of the Jurnal.md portal, has been ordered by the first court to retract information published a year ago about Alexandru Vacarciuc, an employee of the Chisinau Police Inspectorate, Center Headquarters. The judgment, issued on July 22, also obliges the media institution to pay the protagonist 3,000 lei (150 euro) as moral damages. Alexandru Vacarciuc complained to the court after the media institution published an article on July 17, 2023, in which it was alleged that he, along with other police employees, had assaulted the manager of a leisure park. The summons was granted in part, said the judgment, which can be appealed within 30 days. The media organization’s lawyer says the decision was challenged the same day. |
By the end of 2025, lawmakers are expected to review the amendments to the broadcasting legislation that brought the public media service provider back under parliamentary control in the fall of 2021 and overrode the mechanisms that guaranteed the independence of the Audiovisual Council (AC) and Teleradio-Moldova (TRM). This is what the chairwoman of the parliamentary commission for media, Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, said in the context of several recommendations of a study recently launched by Freedom House in Moldova, which assesses the legal framework in the field against international standards. Media law and policy expert Deirdre Kevin conducted the study in April 2024. She analyzed the shortcomings of broadcasting legislation in relation to European and international standards, and among its many conclusions was that the general director of TRM should not be appointed by the parliament, but by the governing body of the public provider – the CSD. Kevin also drew attention to the manner of dismissal of CSD members, which is done on the basis of the annual activity report, presented in the plenary of the legislature. In her opinion, this is a very arbitrary tool that can be abused and should be abolished. |
A draft law aimed at regulating the procedure for blocking users’ access to websites where certain types of harmful content are posted was recently approved by the government. The initiative, which is expected to go to Parliament, involves several amendments to the law on preventing and combating cybercrime. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the initiative is part of the implementation plan of Moldova’s Information Security Strategy for 2019-2024. According to the draft law, the Interior Ministry and the Intelligence and Security Service would have the power to block websites used to commit crimes such as sexual harassment, scamming, propagation of fascism, racism and xenophobia and others. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, as the author of the draft law, points out that in the process of drafting it, the practice of EU countries was studied. |
IJC Updates |
The inter-ministerial plan for the integration of Information and Media Literacy actions, foresees several actions to promote Information and Media Literacy among people with hearing impairments. These include, among other things, the development of teaching materials in video format, translated into sign language. The document, drafted by the IJC and approved by the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture at the end of May, provides for the implementation of these actions in the period 2024-2025. The Ministry of Education and Research and the Independent Journalism Center are responsible for the implementation of these measures. According to the deputy director at the IJC, Anastasia Nani, the IJC is already working on a series of media literacy lessons for all grade levels. With support from Sweden through Internews in Moldova, the organization aims to launch these lessons at the beginning of the new school year and distribute them across multiple platforms. In this way, IJC will also provide opportunities for people with hearing impairments to access tools that contribute to the development of critical thinking. We count on the involvement of the authorities to reach as many beneficiaries as possible,” Nani said. The material is published as part of the campaign to promote the inter-ministerial plan for the integration of information and media literacy actions, carried out in the framework of the project „READ – Responding, Expanding and Acting on Disinformation”, implemented jointly by International Media Support (IMS) and the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), with the financial support of the European Union. |
The integration of media education and the promotion of critical thinking takes place in Moldova not only in schools, but also in informal educational institutions. The ARTICO Republican Center for Children and Youth is planning to carry out more information and training activities in this field over the next two years, according to the inter-ministerial plan for the integration of Information and Media Literacy actions for 2024-2026. The head of the institution’s Communication and International Relations section, Violina Creciun, says that during the 2023-2024 academic year, ARTICO organized various meetings with teachers across the country to facilitate out-of-school opportunities, which included some media topics. For example, the “Your Academy” project, which is aimed at children aged 5-13, included workshops focusing on resisting manipulation, while the “Pixel Media Center ARTICO” TV School carried out a series of activities in the field of journalism, such as media literacy workshops where beneficiaries learned how to evaluate news sources, how to understand the concepts of manipulation and distortion of information, and how to develop skills in critical analysis of news and media content. The material is published as part of the campaign to promote the inter-ministerial plan for the integration of information and media literacy actions, carried out in the framework of the project „READ – Responding, Expanding and Acting on Disinformation”, implemented jointly by International Media Support (IMS) and the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), with the financial support of the European Union. |
The IJC organized a new training program for 19 primary school teachers on 5-7 July 2024 to develop their media literacy skills. The course trainers were Loretta Handrabura and Natalia Griu, the authors of the curriculum and textbook Education for Media, 3rd and 4th grades. IJC program manager Mariana Tabuncic told those present that in a society where information is overwhelming us from all sides, it is imperative that young people and teenagers know how to use it. The participants discussed the educational role of film and how to analyze it in order to correctly understand the message conveyed. They created newspapers as a team, learned how to select relevant information, discussed photography and its role in conveying a message, and learned how to avoid risks in the online environment. At the end of the training, the teachers were also informed about other opportunities that IJC offers in the field of media literacy, including competitions and other activities aimed at increasing the level of critical thinking among students. The training is organized in the framework of the „READ – Responding, Expanding and Acting on Disinformation” project, jointly implemented by International Media Support (IMS) from Denmark and the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), with financial support from the European Union. |
The IJC team has kicked off a new season of the Podcast cuMINTE. For the past four years, podcast guests have tackled topics of public interest, such as the dangers of misinformation, propaganda and fake news. The first guest of the new season is Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun, who discusses the role of schools in shaping a resilient society, the introduction of media literacy elements in traditional subjects and updated textbooks. The team behind the Podcast cuMINTE has also announced that at the end of each episode they will organize a competition for the most creative commentary from listeners, with each guest deciding the winner. July’s question is: What does the school of the future look like in your vision? Answers should be left in the YouTube comments and the winner will be announced in the next episode of the podcast. The cuMINTE Podcast is produced by the Independent Journalism Center with the support of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily represent those of IWPR or its partners. The cuMINTE podcast studio was created thanks to the regional project “Civil Society Resilience and Media Response to the War in Ukraine”, funded by the European Union/European Union in the Republic of Moldova and implemented in partnership with the Prague Civil Society Center and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee. |
The guest of the July cuMINTE Podcast, Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun, also referred to the most important actions of the Inter-ministerial Plan for the integration of Information and Media Literacy actions. The document was developed by the IJC and approved by the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture at the end of May. According to the minister, media education should be integrated into other subjects, such as Romanian or English. He also believes that the assessment of media literacy skills is essential. Asked whether Moldovan schools are currently preparing students for information threats, cyberbullying or propaganda, Dan Perciun admitted that “on a large scale this is not happening, but that there is room to do so within the current disciplines. The material is published as part of the campaign to promote the inter-ministerial plan for the integration of information and media literacy actions, carried out in the framework of the project „READ – Responding, Expanding and Acting on Disinformation”, implemented jointly by International Media Support (IMS) and the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), with the financial support of the European Union. |
The Ministry of Education and Research is planning to introduce changes to the internal rules of operation of educational institutions, restricting access to cell phones, especially during lessons. The new rules would take effect from the new school year. Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun spoke about the initiative on the Podcast cuMINTE. He also said that there is a working group at the ministry on the subject. The minister also said that students’ opinions are divided, especially when it comes to high school students. |
Analysis |
Filing of lawsuits against journalists in Moldova is currently one of the most popular methods of intimidating the press, especially investigative journalists, says Liuba Shevciuc from the Media CU SENS project. In an article published on the IJC’s Media Azi portal she proposes that our country should take over the legal instruments for the protection of journalists against SLAPP, which are operating in the European Union, such as Daphne’s Law, for example. This way, an abusive lawsuit could be dismissed by the court and would save media outlets the stress and money spent during the trial process. Another problem the author raises is the lack of specialized media lawyers in Moldova. Probably, Shevciuc argues, the media is not a very attractive sector for them and this makes it difficult for journalists to defend themselves in court. The production of this material was made possible by the generous support of the American and British people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UK. The content is the responsibility of the Independent Journalism Center and does not necessarily reflect the views of UK, USAID or the United States Government. |
The problems faced by the Roma in the Republic of Moldova are addressed in a commentary by Dr. Ion Duminica, coordinating scientific researcher at the Institute of Cultural Heritage. According to the author, the Roma community in Moldova is currently facing four key socio-economic challenges. These are poverty, which is the social impediment in accessing quality education; illiteracy, which is the main obstacle in accessing competitive employment; unemployment, the financial/economic risk factor, which generates poverty; and fluctuating Roma migration (local/regional/international). In his opinion, public authorities should take full responsibility for the effective implementation of mechanisms for the social inclusion of the Roma community, and civil society organizations and media institutions could play a distinct role in this regard. Today’s society needs a new generation of journalists “affiliated with the humanitarian/community dimension”, who are trained to cover current social issues to facilitate and drive the process of finding appropriate solutions to these challenges, says the author of the article. The material is published as part of the “Inclusion starts with me” campaign. The campaign is organized within the project “Promoting Social Cohesion in Moldova by Fostering Inclusion and Diminishing Discrimination” carried out by the Independent Journalism Center in the framework of the program “Joint Equal Opportunities Initiative – Phase II”, implemented with the support of the Government of Switzerland. |
Expert Elena Marzac, in a commentary published on the Mediacritica portal, states that the Republic of Moldova faces hybrid threats and a vulnerable information environment, marked by disinformation and fake news. The author warns that the provision of accurate and timely information is essential to combat disinformation. In response to the challenges associated with fake news, propaganda and disinformation campaigns, the Center for Strategic Communication and Combating Disinformation was established in July 2023 with the mission to counter actions that threaten national interests. Parliament also approved the Decision on the Concept of Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation for 2024-2028. According to it, strategic communication (StratCom for short) is essential to gain credibility, legitimacy and citizens’ support for the implementation of certain policies and reforms. This article was made possible by the generous support of the American and British people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UK. The content is the responsibility of the Independent Journalism Center and does not necessarily reflect the views of UK, USAID or the United States Government. |
Journalist Felicia Nedzelschi analyzes on the Mediacritica portal the false narratives that some politicians are spreading on social networks, such as, for example, that if Moldova includes the intention of European integration in its constitution, this will inevitably lead to war on the territory of the country. The author cites a Watchdog report, which notes that while the accounts of Moldovan politicians – fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, MP Marina Tauber, who is the target of two criminal cases, and Evghenia Gutul Gagauzia’s Bashkan – have been blocked on Facebook, this has not stopped the spread of disinformation on Facebook and Instagram. Instead, it has increased the number of anonymous pages sponsoring disinformation for huge sums of money, against which the Meta company is belatedly taking action, the organization adds. And, of course, their accounts flourish on TikTok. According to the journalist, in Moldova TikTok has become a perfect machine for spreading falsehoods and fearmongering, which is why there should be a guide in the school subject Media Education on how to identify falsehoods and propaganda on this platform. Media outlets should also have separate departments for TikTok, with dedicated budgets and shooting schedules. That’s because currently, while the media is working and making TikTok with the time left over, TikTokers are working full time on the propaganda machine. The production of this material was made possible by the generous support of the American and British people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UK. The content is the responsibility of the Independent Journalism Center and does not necessarily reflect the views of UK, USAID or the United States Government. |
The LGBTQI+ community in the Republic of Moldova is often used as a scaremonger against our country’s accession to the European Union, writes journalist Victoria Dodon in her commentary on the Mediacritica portal. She recalls the Moldova Pride Festival 2024, which took place for a week in Chisinau and ended on June 16 with a Pride March. The event served as a pretext for “flooding” the online environment with homophobic messages full of prejudice, discrimination and hate speech against members of this community. According to the author, those who are anti-LGBTQI+ have distributed narratives that misinform about the West and the European Union or discredit the government. The Telegram channels and Facebook groups on which such narratives have circulated have tens of thousands of followers. Many such posts quote statements by politicians, MPs, opposition party leaders; others are written directly by those who own the channel or manage the group; many of them represent the same message distributed on several channels simultaneously. In this context, the journalist points out that in the Republic of Moldova, bias-motivated crimes are legally criminalized and incitement to such actions and incitement to discrimination are punishable. |
IJC and Internews Updates |
Twenty female primary school teachers developed their media literacy skills during a training organized by the IJC in Chisinau on 28-30 June 2024.The trainers of the course were Loretta Handrabura and Natalia Griu, authors of the curriculum and textbook Media Literacy, 3rd and 4th grades. At the beginning of the training, Mariana Tabuncic, IJC Program Manager, mentioned that improving teachers’ media literacy is one of the basic objectives of IJC. According to her, since 2017, the subject of Media Literacy has been included in the primary school curriculum, during which time a lot has changed in the field. That is why the textbook has been updated to make it more interactive. For three days, participants learned new media skills, discussing print and online media, audiovisual, media functions. They also tested several interactive tools and new teaching methods and techniques. The teachers were confident that they would be able to effectively use the knowledge gained in the lessons to develop their students’ media skills. The training is part of the project “Media Literacy Advancement and Support to Moldovan Media”, supported by Sweden and implemented by Internews in Moldova. The program aims to contribute to the growth of a diverse media sector. |
The IJC is inviting secondary school teachers to develop their media literacy skills in a Media Literacy training. The program will take place in Romanian and will be organized in Chisinau on August 14-16. The training is based on the curriculum for the optional course Media Literacy for secondary schools, developed by the IJC and approved by the National Curriculum Council. In 2024, the middle school textbook was updated, taking into account new trends and changes in the field, and the training will be based on the new printed textbook. The aim of the training is to improve teachers’ media competences so that teachers can subsequently promote critical thinking among pupils by teaching the optional subject Media Education at secondary level in school. The trainers will be Loretta Handrabura and Natalia Griu, the authors of the Media Literacy textbooks. The training is part of the project “Media Literacy Advancement and Support to Moldovan Media”, supported by Sweden and implemented by Internews in Moldova. The program aims to contribute to the growth of a diverse media sector. |
