The information technology cannot take the place of the print media. Even in the states with developed information technologies, there is a culture of the print media that are promoted and supported by the state. In the Republic of Moldova, this branch is neglected. Moreover, a campaign against the print media was started by closing units selling magazines and newspapers in Chisinau, said representatives of editorial offices who consider that the municipal authorities should place back the removed press kiosks.
In a news conference at IPN, Vasilii Profir, of “Logos-press”, said the kiosks selling magazines and newspapers start work before 7am and the readers, on the way to work, can purchase newspapers from kiosks situated near bus and trolleybus stations. Now that the kiosks were removed, the people cannot find a newspaper. “The councilors and district heads should not bury the press and should be the friends of the press. If they don’t want to support us, they should at least not hamper us. This is our request,” stated Vasilii Profir.
Nicolae Dabija, editor-in-chief of the weekly “Literatura și Arta”, said that in such large capital cities as Bucharest and Moscow, the travellers read either a book or a newspaper. In Moldova, there are no units selling newspapers and magazines at the airport, in stations. The people who cover a long distance by train or plane cannot read as they do not have where to purchase a newspaper from. The authorities should make sure that there are press kiosks and should restore the kiosks in central Chisinau by revamping these. The state should also provide subsidies, at least for the literary and children’s press, and should make sure that the rentals for the print media are not exaggerated. “The reader needs the palpable variant of the paper, the publication. I don’t think we will stand to gain if the print media disappear. Some consider that the epoch of the virtual, digital press came, but I think the print media will always be in demand,” he noted.
Journalist Stan Lipcanu, of the weekly “Săptămâna”, said that the people switched over to reading from electronic devices too easily. There are much more developed countries in terms of information technology, but they kept the places that sell the press.
Elena Tchaikovskaya, of the publication “Antena”, stated that the public authorities initially removed the kiosks from the center of Chisinau on the pretext that the streets were in need of repair. The repair works were completed, but the kiosks haven’t been placed back. Moreover, the kiosks in the city’s districts are also taken away. The editorial offices suffer as they cannot sell their products, while the people lose their jobs. “I will give our publication as an example. During the past year, our print run was decreased by almost 100,000 a year. Other magazines and newspapers are in a similar situation. We do not have where to sell out products. An entire branch is being destroyed and the people are out of work. We made multiple calls, but we are simply not heard,” she said.
