The Press Council designated the finalists of the first contest to confer the National Journalistic Ethics and Professional Deontology Award. Five media outlets reached the final after obtaining the highest score from the public, experts and members of the Press Council. The winner will be announced at the Journalists of 2015 Gala.

The five finalists of the contest are: Agora.md, Newsmaker.md, Radio Free Europe, Ziarul de Garda, and Ziarul SP of Balti. These were selected following a voting procedure that consisted of several stages. The public voted at the first stage, The experts and the Press Council members who are not in involved in conflicts of interests voted afterwards. “According to the regulations, the Press Council members will choose the winner in a closed-door meeting until December 15. The Press Council can also decide not to confer the award if it considers there are no media outlets that deserve this prize,” the Council’s head Ludmila Andronic has told IPN.

Between June 15 and November 15, 2015, the media consumers were able to vote at www.mediaforum.md for the 11 media organizations that applied to take part in the contest or were proposed as contenders. Their professional behavior was assessed by a group of experts and by the members of the Press Council.

Instituted by the Press Council of Moldova, the National Journalistic Ethics and Professional Deontology Award is provided in a move to promote the professional ethical and deontological principles and to recognize the merits of media outlets.

The winner will be made public in the 21st Journalists Gala on December 17.