Dozens of journalists took part in a Press Solidarity March mounted by the Independent Journalism Center in connection with the Press Freedom Days on May 12. The representatives of the mass media set off from the Press House and marched up to the Parliament Building, demanding freedom of expression and free access to information, IPN reports.

Independent Journalism Center director Nadine Gogu said that by this event, the journalists aimed to combine forces to deal with the problems they face at present. According to her, the press is now divided, most of the times according to political criteria.

Executive director of the Association of Independent Press Petru Macovei considers solidarity is now the main thing the press lacks. “In the 1990s, the journalists were more united when particular rights were to be defended. Now, regretfully, the politicians in our country made sure that not only the country, but also the journalists are split. There are journalists who serve the government very zealously. There are journalists who criticize the government, but not always reasonably. There are fewer media outlets that can boast of high quality journalism,” he stated.

Director of the weekly “Ziarul de Garda” Alina Radu said that this march offers the journalists who represent the free press the possibility of making common cause. The situation of the free press has worsened. The access to information becomes more difficult, while the taxes for obtaining access to information about the businesses of politicians doubled.

When the marchers reached the Parliament Building, Speaker Andrian Candu went out to speak to them. He noted that the freedom of the press is very important and the journalists must communicate the cases of intimidation and obstruction in the execution of their duties. He called on the journalists to clearly formulate their demands so that these could be discussed in a joint meeting next week.