Moldovan and Polish newspapers to exchange experience

Five independent local newspapers, members of the Independent Press Association (API) from the R. of Moldova, will benefit form an ample assistance program implemented by the East European Center for Democracy in Poland. From October to November 2006, the East European Centre for Democracy from Poland in collaboration with the Independent Press Association (API) from the R. of Moldova organized three training courses for directors, chief-editors, reporters and sales managers at 12 local independent newspapers. The trainings have been moderated by media experts from Poland, who selected 5 newspapers which will profit from a complex assistance concerning the planning of the newspaper’s development, technical assistance etc. Those 5 independent periodicals are: “SP” - from Balti, “Unghiul” (“The Corner”) - Ungheni, “Observatorul de Nord” (“The Northern Observer”) - Soroca, “Glia Drochiana” – (“The Drochia’s Land”) - Drochia and “Ecoul nostru” (“Our Echo”) - Sangerei. In the period from November 19 to 26, 2006, two employers from each of the 5 newspapers will make a study trip to Poland in order to learn the editorial experience of the local Polish newspapers, and to find out about the strategy of development and financial administration of newspapers, coordination of work in the editorial office, newspaper’s design etc. In the period from December 7 to 11, Polish experts will visit the beneficiary newspapers in order to help them organize strategic planning of the publications’ development. In the second half of December, a computer with licensed software will be purchased for each editorial staff.