Moldova’s lack over the past 27 years of a national mass media policy has allowed for the invasion of its informational space by foreign media products of all sorts, including some highly toxic ones. Currently, upon approval of the National Mass Media Development Concept, which embodies a general vision agreed upon by the state, a strategy and action plan is in order. Through this Concept, the state has assumed responsibility to adjust its legislation to European standards and to adopt these standards, because you cannot strive to join the EU, if you neglect the rules abided by European citizens. Such is the opinion of Electronic Press Association Executive Director, media expert Ion Bunduchi, quoted by IPN.

During the Media Azi show, Ion Bunduchi stated that discussions for the necessity of a state-vision for media development have been going on for the past 27 years, yet no national concept had been develop until recently. Presently, there is no relevant statistical data concerning the media sector. Even if studies and researches have been made in this field, they have been undertaken by NGOs. This fact, according to the expert, has complicated goal and task setting, since these should stem from the results of an up-to-date status quo analysis.

The APEL Director mentioned that there is no up-to-date information on the number of newspaper editorials in Moldova or on their activity statuses. In television, audiences are only measured for stations that record these metrics and pay taxes for it. That is, around 16 TV stations out of a total of about 60. In his opinion, this is a testimony to the low level of audience understanding. In this context, one the objectives stipulated by the Concept is to generate statistical data.

Ion Bunduchi considers that Moldova’s mass media has been allowed to evolve without an initial general vision for its future, which is paramount. Current legislation doesn’t provide a definition for online mass media, whereas the adopted Concept doesn’t only cover audio-visual outlets, but online ones as well. The document also stipulates the necessity to create a co-regulation body tasked with coordinating printed and online mass media activity. We have the Broadcasting Coordination Council to regulate audio-visual media, but there is no such entity for the rest of the press. “Well, printed press might diminish its importance, but what about online outlets? Why leave this field uncoordinated by a central entity? Do we need that or not?” wonders the APEL Director.

Another aspect Ion Bunduchi referred to is the legal framework concerning the mass media. “Although we are in quite good standing in terms of legal framework, we still need new laws to be adopted, and old ones amended and adjusted to European norms and international best practices. For example, the defunct Law on Press. The question is: do we need a new law or some provision that would be distributed throughout other laws? Do journalists need a law, if fiscal and libel matters are already regulated? If these two “phenomena” are regulated by other laws, should we rid ourselves of the Law on Press? What do we do with the one in effect, since it’s as old as the Constitution? A decision must be made. Do we need a law on online mass media? Or do we simply need certain regulations? The National Mass Media Development Concept mentions segment-specific issues and solutions. And finally – what our goal is,” stated the expert.

The expert added that besides the legal framework, there are other factors, such as economic and professional matters. According to the expert, currently no teaching board offers media management courses. There are about 150 radio and TV stations alone, which should be headed by well-prepared managers; professional training is due. Ion Bunduchi further stated that most of the mass media follow ideological effects instead of economic ones, whereas a good manager should step in and steer an editorial towards strong audience numbers and marketing, etc. In his opinion, scarce economic interest among press entities isn’t good. If the state wishes quality information for its society, it should identify means of supporting the mass media. To that end, there are numerous European experiences to be borrowed from, including in matters of tax exemption.