The mass media in Moldova is dominated by manipulation and this is due to the political and commercial factors. Such assessments were made in a club discussion that involved members of the Association of Independent Press (API), the Electronic Press Association (APEL), and the Independent Journalism Center (CJI). The representatives of the media NGOs consider that the press manipulates now more than earlier and only the pressure of society can prevent manipulation and reduce its impact, IPN reports.
API executive director Petru Macovei said the phenomenon of manipulation in Moldova becomes more dangerous. Many important events are covered by some of the media outlets through the angle of owners’ interests. Macovei gave as example the materials about the hunting incident in the Domneasca Forest of last yearend and the statements of some European officials about the Constitutional Court decision by which the President’s decree to nominate Vlad Filat for Prime Minister was declared unconstitutional. “The politicians are preoccupied with settling of accounts, while the people are hostage of a technological policy,” said Petru Macovei, adding that the editors who accept owners’ game rules are to blame for this.
APEL executive director Ion Bunduchi said the journalists covering an event work as the editor tells them and sometimes do not even realize that they are manipulated. For their part, by their products they manipulate the consumers of information. “The authorities invented manipulation and use it through the mass media,” he stated.
According to the executive director of the CJI Nadine Gogu, if the journalists oppose manipulation, this phenomenon can be prevented. The future journalists should be more extensively instructed in journalistic ethics in education institutions. Liliana Vitu-Esanu, strategic development director at the CJI, said the pressure exerted by society can reduce the impact of manipulation through the mass media.
The three NGOs launched a campaign against manipulation. It includes monitoring activities and public debates and the designation of a website where there will be published examples of manipulation, and the visitors will be able to leave comments. The public TV channel and the regional channels will broadcast a video clip of the campaign.
The meeting was held within the Press Freedom Days that are taking place between May 3 and 24.
