Standards for proactive publishing of information – crucial for ensuring transparency in times of crisis
At a time strongly affected by the pandemic crisis, the media still hope, more than ever, for free access to reliable and verified information. Although the current context increases the importance of providing people with full, correct, and prompt information on the policies and strategies adopted by the state, the lack of transparency of public authorities remains a problem constantly reported by journalists and civil society representatives.
The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) reminds that the authorities’ approach to media policies, including respect for journalists’ right of access to information, greatly influences the effectiveness of the national response to the crisis generated by COVID-19. It is necessary for state institutions and authorities to show maximum transparency and accountability by providing information on request, as well as by proactively publishing information of public interest. According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
In this regard, the IJC brings back a series of Standards for proactive publishing of information, applicable to the public authorities of Moldova in order to streamline the process of providing people with correct information during a crisis, thus allowing and encouraging the direct participation of citizens in decision making.
The document has been updated within the project “Improving the media environment for journalists (women and men) in Moldova by holding accountable the public authorities through comprehensive advocacy campaigns”, implemented by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) with the financial support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) between the months of June 2021 and February 2022. The opinions expressed here belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of CFLI.
