Monthly Bulletin, September 2024
Seven media non-governmental organizations, including the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), signed a joint statement expressing their deep concern over the vandalization of the “Teleradio-Moldova” (TRM) building on the night of 27-28 September. The day prior police had detained two people who sprayed red paint on the Government building and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. They declared that they were part of a group of 20 young people recruited to vandalize the buildings of public institutions and authorities in Moldova with the aim of destabilizing the situation in the country. The signatory organizations vehemently condemn actions that pose threats and risks to the work of the public audiovisual media service provider and call on the law enforcement authorities to promptly investigate this case and hold the perpetrators accountable. |
On September 13, journalist Vasile Botnaru became the target of murder threats by a social network user. In a message addressed to the journalist, an internet user, who goes by the name Nestor Putina on social networks, threatened Botnaru with the words: “They will soon find you hanged! You don’t have much left (…) either on the wall or with your throat cut!”. Eight media NGOs, including the IJC, the Electronic Press Association and the Independent Press Association condemned the act. In a joint statement, the signatories point out that threatening to kill or seriously harming a person’s physical integrity or health is a criminal offense. The signatory organizations have called on Moldovan law enforcement to hold the perpetrator of the threats accountable. |
Fairness, balance and impartiality are principles that the media are obliged to respect when reporting on the topics of the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova and the referendum of October 20, 2024. To clarify the editorial and ethical challenges that journalists might face during the election campaign, the IJC and BBC Media Action have developed recommendations based on the rules and principles set out in the Central Electoral Commission’s Regulations on media coverage of elections. Among other things, they define editorial values and principles of fair journalism. The authors clarify the differences between private and public life in the electoral context, explain to journalists how to deal with accusations, how to deal with disinformation and what to draw attention to in language and images. A separate section is also dedicated to opinion polls. |
The Information and Security Service (SIS) has requested to block access for Moldovan users to six Russian news portals and one anti-EU propaganda portal in Moldova. These are Nuacum.eu; Ng.ru, Ria.ru, Gazetacrimea.ru, Crimea.gov.ru, Crimea.ria.ru, Crimea24tv.ru. Network providers are obligated to block web pages included in the SIS list of online sources promoting fake news affecting national security. The National Agency for the Regulation of Electronic Communications and Information Technology, under which the providers of electronic communications networks and services are subordinated, is responsible for ensuring that the SIS orders are carried out. |
The WatchDog.MD community launched on September 25 the report “Elections in Romania and Moldova. Campaign narratives of the Kremlin”, in which it presented the main online messages misinforming about the referendum on Moldova’s accession to the EU. The launch event took place in Bucharest on September 25. The experts identified five such narratives that have been used to manipulate public opinion and reduce support for European integration: ● The referendum is organized in violation of legal/democratic rules; ● The referendum is a presidential election fraud scheme, a populist and hypocritical act; ● “Maia Sandu referendum”; a “pro” vote means a vote for Maia Sandu; ● Referendum is a dangerous idea / not the right time to hold it. ● Referendum has no legal power/legitimacy. Among the most active sources of misinformation dissemination identified by the authors are Telegram channels WTF Moldova, Bogdan Tirdea, KP.MD and Moldova Politics, which “organized coordinated campaigns to amplify anti-referendum and anti-EU messages”. WatchDog.MD experts identified 1,540 posts aimed at discrediting Moldova’s accession to the EU, 305 of which were specifically focused on discrediting the constitutional referendum. |
Misinformation or information disorder, manipulation and interference of foreign information, Russian Federation’s tactics of using old narratives and constantly repeating them, are just some of the topics discussed at the Global Forum on Media Literacy and Information Integrity, held in Chisinau on September 10. The event brought together representatives from the fields of journalism, strategic communication and governmental actors, who addressed the challenges Moldova and other countries face in the face of foreign information manipulation and interference. Among them, the Vice President of the Audiovisual Council, Aneta Gonta, the Director of the Center for Strategic Communication and Combating Disinformation, Ana Revenco, Romanian journalist Marian Voicu, media expert Ion Bunduchi, and the expert in strategic communication within the International Practitioners Partnership Network (PractNet) from Estonia, Kersti Luha. |
One of the main messages that resounded from the rostrum of the Global Forum for Media Literacy and Integrity: the importance of combating misinformation and promoting self-regulation. Opening the event, the Chair of the Parliament’s Media Committee, Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, noted the consolidation of actors involved in the process of promoting media literacy. “I am glad that we already have a partner, the Ministry of Culture, which has the necessary competences and is developing capacities in this field. What we need to do together is to strengthen this joint effort: the parliamentary committee, the ministry’s directorate, colleagues from civil society organizations specialized in media and representatives of media institutions,” said the MEP. IJC Program Manager Mariana Tabuncic underscored that media literacy should coordinated by a central institution, and that the IJC welcomes the inter-ministerial document between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, which sets out the responsibilities of each institution. Researcher Angela Vacaru, confirmed that “everything in this document is a collective effort, a collaboration between different actors in the field.” The event brought together members of civil society and representatives of state authorities, who have taken a more active role in promoting media literacy following the signing of the Inter-Ministerial Plan for the Integration of Information and Media Literacy (IML) in the Republic of Moldova, a document developed by the IJC. Andrei Chistol, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, also spoke about the institution’s initiatives and how the ministry could contribute to the promotion of media literacy in society. 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. |
A strategy in the field of media literacy on the dimension of the audiovisual regulator was presented at the Global Forum on Media Literacy and Information Integrity by the Audiovisual Council (AC). The AC Vice President Aneta Gonta said that “media literacy is very important, including for the regulator”. This year the AC for the first time included media literacy in its annual action plan. Martina Chapman, a Council of Europe associate expert on media and information literacy, developed the AC’s strategy for increasing media literacy in Moldova. The strategy prioritizes strategic collaboration between partners, creating a national knowledge/information base, launching awareness-raising and empowerment initiatives, and improving communication between members of the media literacy community. 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. |
“Foreign information manipulation and interference are the biggest challenges facing Moldova’s democracy and the integrity of the upcoming elections, argues the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) Pre-electoral Assessment Mission Report presented in Chisinau. According to the report’s authors, Russia is using information manipulation and disinformation campaigns, especially on social media platforms, to influence public opinion and destabilize the democratic process. The NDI report recalls that in the face of this wave of disinformation, the Moldovan government has suspended the licenses of 12 TV stations “serving foreign, mainly Russian interests” and blocking 31 websites, 21 of which were directly run from Russia. The Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Misinformation was also established in 2023 to coordinate efforts to combat malign influences. NDI experts also note the involvement of civil society in debunking falsehoods, pointing out that: organizations such as WatchDog.MD and StopFalls monitor the information space and counter fake news and disinformation, the Independent Journalism Center organizes media literacy courses, and media outlets such as RISE Moldova or Ziarul de Gardă investigate disinformation campaigns. The report also contains a series of recommendations to the authorities and civil society to tackle disinformation. |
The National Institute for Innovations in Cybersecurity “Cybercor”, launched in Chisinau on September 18, “will contribute to the creation of a strong shield, capable of responding to cyber threats that jeopardize national security, but also the economic and social stability of the country,” according to the rector of the Technical University of Moldova (UTM). The opening of the institution was announced during the international conference CyberCor Moldova. Participants at the event noted that this new institute “is intended to be a center of excellence, dedicated to research and development of advanced solutions to combat cyber threats.” Cybercor, which will be located within the premises of the Technical University of Moldova, will train specialists in the cybernetic field among civil servants, central and local authorities, as well as students. Cybercor has four laboratories specializing in cyber security threat simulation and exercises for the cyber security team, training and training rooms and a conference room. The total investment in infrastructure and equipment amounts to two million dollars, contributed by the Technical University and several foreign donors. |
The Show Media Azi |
Veridica.md, new platform specialized in monitoring, analyzing and debunking disinformation and manipulation campaigns, has been launched in Moldova. A similar website has existed for several years in Romania. On the impact of the initiative and the role of journalists in cultivating critical thinking among media consumers, journalist Anastasia Nani spoke to Romanian journalist Marian Voicu, founder of the Veridica website and the producer of Breaking Fake News on TVR, |
Presidential elections are coming up in October, as well as a republican constitutional referendum in which citizens are invited to answer the question of whether they support amending the Constitution to allow Moldova to join the European Union. 19 TV and 12 radio stations will cover the elections. Aneta Gonta, vice-president of the Audiovisual Council, explained what and how the Council will monitor these media outlets |
The Moldovan Journalist’s Code of Ethics was last revised in 2019. In the meantime, artificial intelligence has appeared, many newsrooms have adjusted their work to the liking of social media algorithms, and some have migrated to YouTube, becoming content creators. How does the current version of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics correspond to the new realities and challenges? Viorica Zaharia answers this and other questions in Media Azi. The journalist was recently re-elected as chair of the Council of Experts and Experts, mandated by the Press Council to examine complaints and self-reports of violations of the Code of Ethics of Journalists of the Republic of Moldova. The show Media Azi 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. |
In Media Azi, we have talked a few times about the problems deaf people face when they want to get information from TV. But how accessible is public interest information for visually impaired people? And who cares about respecting their rights? These and other questions are answered by Stefan Oprea, vice president of the Moldovan Association of the Blind, in the program Media Azi. The program was launched as part of 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. |
IJC Updates |
The IJC has ranked Zdg.md first in credibility among 40 Moldovan online media outlets. The site is followed by Newsmaker.md, Agora.md, Nokta.md, Tv8.md, Moldova1.md, Infotag.md, Realitatea.md, Esp.md, and Ipn.md. The full ranking can be found on the Media Radar platform. The IJC team analyzed about 2,000 news stories and found that the content on many of the monitored platforms is often based on coverage of press releases. The team also observed the burnishing of the images of several politicians who have signaled their intention to get involved in the presidential election. All in all, the new round of monitoring reveals a decrease in the quality of news on some websites, IJC director Anastasia Nani noted. The monitoring 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. |
Sixteen female journalists from several newsrooms across the country participated in the training “Between truth and sensational: How to report professionally on violence against women?”. The event took place on 12-13 September 2024 and was organized by the Women’s Law Center (WLC) in collaboration with the IJC. Female journalists discussed the importance of following ethical rules, professional ethics and responsibility in reporting cases of violence against women and domestic violence. Together with Arina Turcan-Dontu, CDF lawyer, the participants discussed the legal remedies available to victims of violence against women and domestic violence, the difficulties they face in reporting cases of violence, the measures of protection of victims and the possibilities of intervention by the authorities in various situations of violence. After the training, the journalists will have two months to put their knowledge into practice by documenting and producing at least one piece of journalistic material on violence against women and/or domestic violence. By 15 November 2024, the materials are to be sent to the organizers, who will evaluate them according to their compliance with the ethical rules and the knowledge gained during the training. The five best materials will be awarded with 9,000 lei (450 euro). The training program is organized by the Women’s Law Center in collaboration with Independent Journalism Center and with financial support from Sweden. |
The IJC developed media literacy skills of 15 secondary school teachers working in Russian-language schools in the northern districts of Moldova. The program was conducted in Russian and was organized from 6-8 September 2024 in Balti municipality. The training was based on the secondary school level Media Education curriculum, as well as on the updated version of the textbook for Media Education, printed in 2024. The course trainers were Dr. Loretta Handrabura and Natalia Griu, authors of the curriculum and the textbook Media Education, grades 7-8. IJC Program Manager Mariana Tabuncic reviewed the main achievements of the organization in the field of media education since 2017, when, with the agreement of the Ministry of Education and Research, the optional subject Media Education was introduced in schools. For three days, the teachers familiarized themselves with the terms in the field, learned how to distinguish true news from fake news, and how to create news that complies with deontological rigor. Discussions focused on forms of online bullying and security in cyberspace. The training used interactive working methods that teachers will be able to employ in the classroom. The training program was 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. |
A group of 25 employees of the Municipal Library “B.P. Hasdeu” of mun. Chisinau and its branches in the suburbs participated on September 26 in a media education workshop organized by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC). Library Director Mariana Harjevschi said at the opening of the event that media education is becoming more and more important nowadays. „There are new functions, new responsibilities and, of course, new challenges to be faced,” said Victoria Tataru, program coordinator at IJC. Journalist Ana Sarbu, as a trainer, gave the participants several examples to illustrate what it means to be media literate and why media literacy is so necessary today. At the end of the workshop, B.P. Hasdeu Library employees watched several videos produced by the Independent Journalism Center, which reinforced their knowledge about what fake news is, who is behind a media institution and how it is manipulated through the media. The Media Literacy Café meet-up was organized within the project „Building cohesion in Moldova through promoting social inclusion and diminishing discrimination” implemented by the Independent Journalism Center within the program “Joint Equal Opportunity Initiative – Phase II” implemented with the support of the Government of Switzerland. |
After the approval in May 2024 of the Inter-ministerial Plan for the integration of Information and Media Literacy actions, the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) started a series of workshops related to the implementation of the actions included in the document. The first workshop was organized on Friday, 13 September 2024, in online format for representatives of local education bodies from all over the country. The event was attended by over 25 participants. Opening the event, IJC Executive Director Nadine Gogu said that the IJC started with the idea that the Moldova needs a public policy in the field of media education, and the Interministerial Plan is a first step towards such a policy. Expert Angela Vacaru, who together with the IJC, coordinated the elaboration of the Interministerial Plan for the Integration of Information and Media Literacy actions, emphasized that, once this plan is approved, we intend that certain responsibilities and processes will be delegated to state institutions in order to enhance information and media literacy capacities. And Angela Prisacaru, a senior consultant at the Ministry of Education and Research, emphasized the importance of involving representatives of local education bodies across the country in the implementation of the actions included in the document. The inter-ministerial plan for the integration of Information and Media Literacy actions was approved by a joint order of the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture in May 2024. The workshop was 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. |
One month before the presidential elections and the referendum on EU membership, several Telegram channels in Moldova continued to circulate messages aimed at discrediting the elections, denigrating the government and the European Union, misinforming about the possible consequences of the October 20 vote and thus discouraging citizens from making decisions, writes journalist Victoria Dodon in an analysis published by the ICJ’s Mediacritica.md portal. The author analyzes the main falsehoods that appeared in the run-up to the elections and the numerous scare-mongering methods used to manipulate voters. She also notes that the Kremlin-fueled hybrid warfare has taken on huge proportions. Referring to an NDI report, the journalist writes that since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia has intensified its false information campaigns in Moldova. For the 2023 local elections alone, Russia allocated the equivalent of 50 million dollars for false information and hybrid war efforts in Moldova. In addition to supporting pro-Russian political forces, the funds were directed to pro-Russian media, influencers and Telegram channels. |
On September 20, Moldova began electoral campaigns for the presidential elections and the referendum on accession to the EU. Media expert Ion Bunduchi listed some of the narratives that are circulating during the election campaign on a recent edition of IJC’s podcast cuMINTE. The expert warns that these narratives “are so simplistic” that they are easily assimilated by the majority of the electorate, which makes them extremely effective. |
The September edition of the cuMINTE podcast features security expert Sanda Sandu, founder of the Platform for Security and Defense Initiatives. The topic is a relevant one and concerns information as a tool often used for disinformation, manipulation and even destabilization of security. Podcast producer Ana Sarbu talks to Sanda Sandu about how social networks can become platforms for disinformation and propaganda. CONTEST Our question for those who listened to today’s podcast is: How can a social network be used to jeopardize an electoral process? We await your answers in the comments of this edition on YouTube. The winner will be announced in the next episode and will receive a prize, offered by the IJC. 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.
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People with disabilities in our country are benefiting from a new interactive platform that contains a map of the accessibility of public buildings in Moldova. This was made possible thanks to the hackathon “Solutions for Inclusion”, conducted by the IJC. The project was implemented by the team “Equal Access for All.” Accessibility of public buildings and urban infrastructure in Moldova still remains a barrier to social inclusion of people with disabilities. According to the project team, the situation needs to be constantly monitored to urge the authorities to address the problem. |
The Roma community in the Republic of Moldova is benefiting from an interactive digital platform thanks to the hackathon “Solutions for Inclusion”, conducted by the IJC. The project was implemented by the National Association of Community Mediators (ANMC) of the Republic of Moldova. Through this digital platform, the association aimed to address the socio-economic inclusion issues of Roma, promoting the function of community mediator and facilitating equitable access to information and public services for the entire community. The www.anmc.md platform, created in the framework of the hackathon, is structured in two main modules: one dedicated to community mediators, providing up-to-date resources and guides for their work, and another one for beneficiaries, including essential information for Roma and other vulnerable groups. Through this digital platform, the Roma community can also find information about each community mediator, their work and how to contact them. The hackathon was organized in the framework of 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. |
Over 250 children from three Russian-language schools and pre-schools in Anenii Noi district learned about personal safety online from the actors of the Municipal Puppet Theater “Guguta”, which continues its tour with the Russian-language version of the show PikPok.online@guguta. Students of the Anenii Noi district were challenged by the actors to understand what the internet is, how online friendships work, and whether they can fully trust what they see or read on social platforms. The students were impressed by the acting and the subject matter of the play, once again realizing the benefits and risks of being online. In her welcoming speech, Gabriela Lungu, the director of the theater, warned the students to be very careful about the information they consume online and what they post on their profiles. |
After Anenii Noi, three other Russian-language schools in the Orhei district hosted the actors. On September 20, around 160 kindergarten children and primary school pupils learned how to better protect themselves from the risks of the online environment by watching the educational story staged by the theater actors. The action is part of a project in partnership with the IJC. Primary school students and parents/grandparents who came to pick them up from school took the opportunity to watch the show together. PikPok.online@guguta is an educational and entertaining story, which helps children to understand how the online environment works, encouraging them to analyze what they have seen or heard especially on social networks. The PikPok.online @guguta performance tour is organized within the framework of the project “Media education and literacy and optimizing newsrooms”. This project is financially supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moldova. |
IJC and Internews Updates |
The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) and the Committee for Freedom of the Press (CLP) are launching the anniversary edition of the annual Press Club Gala to present the 2024 Journalists of the Year Awards. The 30th edition of the Gala encourages the efforts of Moldovan journalists to make quality press in line with international professional standards. Materials for the competition, published between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024 by national and local press, will be submitted both by the editors on behalf of the authors (with the name/names of the journalists) and directly by the authors. The awards will take place at the Press Club’s Annual Gala on December 19, 2024. This year’s Press Club Anniversary Gala is organized by the Independent Journalism Centre with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Chisinau and the project “Media Literacy Advancement and Support to Moldovan Media”, supported by Sweden and implemented by Internews in Moldova. |
Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, students at all three levels of education will study the optional subject Media Literacy from updated textbooks. The IJC decided to revise the content of all textbooks to keep up with new developments in the field, as the first edition of the textbooks was printed between 2017-2019. Their authors are education experts Dr. Loretta Handrabura and Natalia Griu. In the updated edition, the primary grade textbook has a new cover and a new format, it has become smaller and more compact; the text has been reduced. The same goes for the secondary textbook, which has a new format, QR codes and many new illustrations. The textbook for IX -XII grades also contains QR codes, many illustrations and new links to various video products. The textbooks were updated as 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. |
