Antena C no longer the same

“Antena C” will no longer have the same format, which has brought the radio the reputation of Moldova’s most popular station for eight and a half years. The former staff told a news conference on April 5 that the decision to stop the activity does not belong to its employers, but the to the Christian-democrat and communist municipal councillors, who destroyed the municipal station “Antena C” after liquidating the municipal news agency “Info-Prim” on August 10, 2005. The news conference held outdoor the radio building located on Veronica Micle Street 10, started with speeches that predicted the liquidation of “Antena C”. The most suggestive statement, according to the journalists, belonged to the Christian-Democrat Leader Iurie Rosca: “I give my word that you will be privatised!” Thanking his colleagues for their courage, dignity, professionalism and team spirit, former director of “Antena C” Vasile State read a statement which said “that the destruction of “Antena C” planned by the representatives of the government and skilfully put into practice in the name of the ‘political partnership’ is finished”. The former employees say that they do not want to identify themselves with the present “Antena C” which does not live up to the name “Antenna of the Capital, Antenna of Chisinau” it had before. “In light of this situation we urge the new administration to use no more the identity signals of “Antena C”, the promos, jingles created before privatisation, because they are the intellectual product of the former team. We recommend the new administration to give up to the name of the station, because it does not fit the concept by means of which “Antena C” was seen so far: courage, dignity, professionalism, team spirit”, says the statement by the former employees of the radio station. After they read the statement, the journalists popped balloons with “Antena C” inscriptions and lit candles in memory of the station. According to the first director of the station, Ion Bunduchi, the situation of “Antena C” stirs revolt and regret, because a free radio was closed, professionals were deprived of the right to work, and listeners – of the right to have access to unbiased information. “To broadcast does not mean to inform”, the first director of “Antena C” added. Attending the event, Alexandru Dorogan, former director of the Municipal PR Department, who created the municipal media holding 9 years ago, mentioned that “Antena C” has created an audience that understood it can have own opinions and is able to speak freely. “Antena C” started to work on 1 October 1998, on the same day with the municipal news agency “Info-Prim”, which was disbanded almost to years ago with the votes of the same Communist and Christian-Democrat councillors.