Journalists to come up with a new Press Association

A working group composed of 13 journalists from Moldova will frame the statute of a press association intended to defend the interests of journalists and mass media bodies. This decision was made as part of the Press Club, assembled in Chisinau Thursday, November 2, attended by the managers and representatives of mass-media organizations. The main topic of the discussions concerned the necessity of founding an association of press bodies. Journalist Vlad Bercu emphasized the significance of the association’s coming into being. Nevertheless, he said, it will start off on the wrong foot if the association will gather under its umbrella the entire Moldovan press. Everyone should have the chance to join it, but it is important to frame its founding principles, the accession criteria, and its objectives. It is also important that the association’s financing is put in question. Publicist Val Butnaru pointed out that this is the third attempt to create an association. The first one was the Bureau for Circulation Audit, and then the idea of a Union came up, followed by the suggestion to form an association. Butnaru said that the first two attempts have failed because talks prevailed over action. He recommended the example of the Romanian Press Club as a start point. George Damian, editor at the Romanian “Ziua” newspaper, told his entourage that the core idea of the Romania-based press associations is to defend journalist, but also to protect common people against the excessive power of the press. “One has to find the middle ground between journalists and the others, so that no one is at each other's throats”, Damian concluded. Chairman of the Electronic Press Association Alexandru Dorogan said it is important to go beyond the frames of the incumbent Press Club, which has as a purpose to invite personalities out of journalist’s reach. Dorogan suggested a new stage of association and journalists’ protection. As Dorogan put it, the journalists have two main problems: rights and freedoms from which they cannot profit in this society, and ignorant reporters towards the ethical code. Respecting these two matters should stand as principle for accession, and those who would be accepted to join must pledge themselves to defend their rights and freedoms and to obey the code of ethics. The working group is due to draft the statue of the future association within a month. The legal procedures will follow afterwards.