The technological progress of the last few years has transferred journalism from the familiar distribution platforms, such as TV, radio and the print media, to social networking sites and the Internet. Together with the change of the method of receiving information, the quality of journalism decreases, especially because the media products can be created by accidental persons who can influence public opinion both positively and negatively. In Moldova’s conditions, amid a digitized system, it becomes harder to build a healthy, independent and profitable mass media system. The existence of information environments was discussed in a public event organized by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Chisinau on December 11, IPN reports.
According to German journalist Johann Michael Moller, the social media became the journalistic environment of the digital era so that the traditional information distribution systems become things of the past. Together with this, the relationship between the broadcaster and the receiver also changed, becoming much more active. The role of watchdog of society is taken over by bloggers who transmit the message differently, closer to the consumer. This way the voice of freedom is no longer represented by state institutions, but by lower sections, by society. Regardless of the developments, journalism should not lose the role of the fourth power in the state. At international level, the rise in media offers led to a decline in the quality of media products. Anyone with lower education can become journalist and can express opinions that are not necessarily based on knowledge.
Canal Regional TV general producer Ecaterina Covali said high-quality journalism is directly proportional to democracy in the given country. Initially, Canal Regional included 15 local televisions, but during the past six years five of them stopped work and this affected the channel’s current grid. Of the other ten channels that remained, three moved to the online sphere. Earlier, journalism through social networking sites didn’t look attractive to her, but now she sees that the news broadcast through such sites are followed. At regional level, the lack of journalists is pressing. The regional channels do not have employees and also cannot pay the journalists for their work. The ‘media lizards’ steal all the media professionals, offering them double salaries.
Cătălin Gomboș, journalist of Radio Romania, noted high-quality journalism can be maintained by following what other professional journalists do, including at international level, and keeping up with them by meeting particular international standards. The current digital era does not bring the end of classical journalism as this will return namely owing to the explosion of citizen journalism that played its role in society. Given the appearance of fake news that are used for political purposes as well, the information should be filtered out by editor-journalists who know and apply the old school of verifying information from three sources.
Val Butnaru, founder and manager of Jurnal TV channel, said journalism in Moldova is divided into two categories: a majority that speaks about a reality and a minority that promotes another reality. These two parallel realities confuse the public. Jurnal TV is an anti-government channel and will remain as such after the government is replaced.
Anastasia Nani, vice director of the Independent Journalism Center, said the recipe for high-quality journalism resides in the work in people’s interests, balance of sources and observance of the deontological code. The digital challenges only support the journalists and these should use such instruments. However, media audience studies show the TV channels top the list of information sources and the politicians are aware of this. Now some of the big media holdings cause shortages of personnel at media outlets that are inconvenient for the power by offering very large salaries to journalists, which are three times higher than those paid by independent media outlets.
Hendrik Sittig, director of the Media Program South East Europe at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, said that by its programs the Foundation aims to support the social transformation of journalism, formation of professional journalists, consolidation of the right of the press and professionalization of political communication. “We believe in the freedom of expression and opinion and are convinced that these are the poles of democracy. As part of our program, we want to consolidate the mass media and to improve the framework working conditions of journalists,” stated Hendrik Sittig.
