A platform is needed through which the representatives of the mass media would discuss with the authorities, in a honest way, so as to find solutions that would influence also the advertising policy of large companies and publicity donors, expert Igor Boțan stated in a public debate on the issue staged by IPN News Agency.

“It is very important to realize what kind of the media we have by the type of organization. We have media that focus on business. These organizations want to do business and their goal is to make money. But we also have media that are a kind of hybrids – a business and also a political project. It is very interesting to see politicians who are media magnates.[…] And we also have the press called ‘of public utility’, which means it is of public interest. If we have all these things, the state should come with regulations that would ensure the observance of the basic rights stipulated in the Constitution and in the legislation of the Republic of Moldova. It goes to pluralism, non-admission of censorship on the part of the public authorities. Self-censorship is also very important and the most important thing is not to allow fake news and disinformation,” said the expert, noting that a complex approach to this problem can bring us closer to the result expected by society. 

Igor Boțan noted that Moldova needs an information policy. The government is preoccupied with information security given the circumstances in the region, but it should work out an information policy together with the government so that the regulations ensure things remain stable after the government is changed as the national interest of Moldova is to have correctly informed citizens who share values to which Moldova subscribed by the treaties of which it forms part, owing to the effort of the mass media and also of the politicians.

According to the standing expert of IPN’s project, the media outlets that are stronger will overcome the crises and it will be a struggle for survival. “Very good media outlets can disappear and this is worrisome. We are a relatively small society with modest potential and, if several very good outlets disappear, this will be a loss for society. So, the risk is very big. As regards the quality of the people from the press, I insist on the importance of the Press Council. I think this self-managing body is extremely important and those who are in the media, in different institutions are in competition between them. But there is the reputation that matters and this ensures credibility. In this case, the Press Council should be supported forcefully so that this self-managing institution guarantees that those who subscribe to the Deontological Code and values that are promoted by the Press Council benefit from credibility and reputation. I think this is very important,” stated Igor Boțan.

The public debate entitled “Independent press in Moldova: after extensive sanitary crisis and during war” was the 239th installment of IPN’s project “Developing Political Culture through Public Debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.

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