The pandemic and the war influenced the work of the media. A recent opinion poll shows that over 40% of Moldova’s population considers Ukraine is to blame for the war in the neighboring country and this is the result of the propaganda and manipulation through the media. At the same time, the Audiovisual Council does not have powers to counteract propaganda and the legislation in this regard should be reviewed, Nadine Gogu, executive director of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), said in a flashmob event staged in front of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Moldova, IPN reports.
The event was organized on the Press Freedom Day that is annually celebrated on May 3 to commemorate the journalists who died in the line of duty. The journalists who came to the embassy carried the slogan “Killing of journalists will not hide horrors of war” and pictures of seven journalists who died in the line of duty, including in times of war. According to the IJC, the list of journalists who died while doing their job is much longer, of over 20, and the number of journalists who became victims of the war in Ukraine expands daily, according to international organizations.
Nadine Gogu said that when the journalists are arrested, held arbitrarily, tortured and killed, these acts can be described as war crimes and those who are responsible for them should be held accountable in accordance with the provisions of the national and international legislation. Abuses against the freedom of the media and the freedom of expression arte witnessed in Ukraine.
“The absence of the necessary protective equipment is a big challenge for those who want to cover the war in Ukraine. We have only a limited set and try to cover this necessity as the journalists, primarily those who cover the war, should think about the own security. Life is more important,” stated Nadine Gogu, noting that the lack of training seminars for journalists who treat war themes is another challenge.
According to her, in Moldova there are media outlets that try to remain independent from the political factor, from business entities that pursue interests in the political sector and they manage to do this even if it is not so easy. The politicians verbally attack journalists. It is very hard for a media outlet to remain financially viable and some of the journalists accept to be supported by other players, but they should actually work for the public.
Nadine Gogu noted that compared with last year, the freedom of the media has slightly improved. The World Press Freedom Index of the international organization Reporters without Borders shows that the Republic of Moldova is among the states in which the situation is rather good as regards the freedom of the media and ranks 40th in 2022. Last year Moldova was the 89th in the rankings. “The methodology changed and this explains the rise. They took into account not only the political factor, but also the social, economic and security aspects,” stated the executive director of the IJC.
Also today, President Maia Sandu came with a congratulatory message on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day. “I transmit a thought of solidarity to all the journalists who do their job with responsibility and courage in this difficult period, those who, sometimes risking their lives, bring news to our homes and this way fulfill the most important duty of the press - to inform. We live in a period when journalistic accounts became real accounts from the front. During the 69 days of war, about 20 journalists fought on the battlefield alongside soldiers. The free press remains the basis of a free and democratic society we all want,” noted Maia Sandu.
