The Press Council recommends the channel Pro TV Chisinau to apologize publicly within a newscast for violating the deontological norms when broadcasting a feature entitled “The partner’s revenge”. The members of the Council established that the TV channel violated the right to a private life and to dignity of the feature’s woman protagonist, IPN reports.

In its January 29 meeting, the Press Council examined the issue following complaints from consumers of mass media products and a public appeal of Amnesty International Moldova, which condemned the professional irresponsibility of the journalists in this case.

Press Council secretary Petru Macovei referred to the defective way in which the TV channel treated the subject. “The way it was produced, this feature seriously violated professional deontology and, first of all, the right to a private and family life of the woman protagonist. The interference in the private life of a person wasn’t justified, while the channel didn’t take effective measures to protect the victim’s identity. It only formally blurred the pictures taken from pornographic sites. But there was provided information that can help identify the victim,” he stated.

Council member Olga Manole said Pro TV presented the woman in this feature in a discriminatory way, putting her in an embarrassing situation. “Though the feature is entitled “The partner’s revenge”, the journalists didn’t relate the immoral and illegal deed of the man and this is revolting,” she said.

The Press Council took cognizance of the fact that the TV channel published a communique on its website, by which it apologized to the victim. But the head of the Press Council Ludmila Andronic said public apologies should be also offered in a news report, at the same hour and in the same order in which the feature was broadcast. “When a TV channel considers that a news item is the most important or one of the most important and starts the news program with it, the apologizes or admission of the own mistakes should have the same weight before the viewers and the victim,” she stated.

Attending the meeting of the Press Council, the director of the News Department of Pro TV Chisinau ‎Artur Corghencea admitted that the TV channel didn’t anticipate such a situation and that the feature was produced with a series of mistakes. “I personally spoke to the teacher who was the protagonist and offered our channel’s apologies to her,” he said.

Earlier, a number of NGOs boycotted Pro TV Chisinau following the broadcasting of the news on January 16, 2015. The boycott was maintained until the TV channel fulfilled a number of requests, including making apologies in the same new program, of 5pm.