The changes proposed by MPs to the Broadcasting Code are confusing and contain elements that promote unfair competition on the broadcasting market. The attempt to hurry their adoption forms part of a strategy for preparing for the presidential elections, which is aimed at securing the loyalty of media outlets, said media experts and journalists who took part in the club discussion “STOP FALS!”, staged by the Association of Independent Press (API) on July 25, IPN reports.
The discussions centered on two bills to amend the Broadcasting Code – bill No. 125 drafted by Liberal MPs and bill No. 218 drafted by Democratic MPs.
API executive director Petru Macovei said the government forces the separate adoption of these bills even if the chairman of the parliamentary commission on mass media promised that the two bills will be merged with the new draft Broadcasting Code that was adopted in the first reading. “To my mind, bill No. 218 drafted by the Democratic Party aims to remove particular TV channels from the audiovisual market because now not all the broadcasters afford to make own products in the volumes indicated in the bill,” he stated.
According to Petru Macovei, instead of creating conditions for stimulating the rise in the volume and quality of the national products, the MPs impose convenient restrictions on some of the media owners. The Democratic MPs’ bill arouses questions to such issues as the exclusion of the provision that allows withdrawing the broadcast license only after all the other gradual punishment methods are used and the limitation of the conditions of the broadcasters’ presence within Moldova’s jurisdiction.
Director of the Independent Journalism Center Nadine Gogu considers the forced promotion of this bill during the last few days shows that the authors are cheating. “The Consultative Council created by the head of the parliamentary commission on mass media agreed one thing, but another thing actually happens. We want to see the real wish of the authorities to make changes in this area, not the promotion of private interests. If the authorities do not have the necessary financial resources, they should be at least ready to support our activities,” she stated.
Journalist Eugen Rybka said bill No. 218 is unclear. “Even if the authors try to present it as a solution to protect the national broadcasting sector, the bill will not bring improvements. I remind you that the European experts disapproved of this initiative, noting at least five violations of the European standards on the freedom of expression. The bill has nothing to do with the diminution of propaganda. Only conditions for unfair competition are created. It contains harsh penalties and this makes us think that it is a preparation for this autumn’s elections,” he said.
Director of the Electronic Press Association Ion Bunduchi questioned the efficiency of bill No 218. “We must fight propaganda, but not in such a way, by banning other TV channels,” said the media expert.
Alina Radu, director of the investigation publication “Ziarul de Garda”, called on the media outlets to sign and publish a memorandum where to explain the shortcomings of the bills promoted by the rulers and to seek that the media organizations should be obliged to publish the sources of financing.
