The Press Council challenges the decision that journalist Gheorghe Gonța should moderate the presidential debate before the runoff election between Maia Sandu and Alexandr Stoianoglo. “This is lack of respect for the public, legitimization of behaviors lacking integrity and promotion of practices that are absolutely inconsistent with professional and ethical journalism,” reads the statement of the Press Council, quoted by IPN.
The Council noted that Gheorghe Gonța repeatedly admitted in his interviews that he accepted “money in an envelope" from politicians. "Such behavior flagrantly runs counter to the Journalist’s Code of Ethics of the Republic of Moldova, which expressly stipulates that the journalists do not accept money, gifts, paid trips or any other advantages offered to them in order to influence the journalistic work and whose acceptance can compromise their independence and authority in front of the public and can affect trust in journalists,” said the Press Council.
The statement also says that Gonța signed a contract for the provision of services with a politician who ran in this year’s presidential election. The contract stipulates the production of talk-shows in which that politician promotes his political views. This fact goes against the foundation of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics, formulated in the preamble: “Condemning any attempt to involve journalists in political partisanship activities or ideological-financial mercenaryism, propaganda warfare or information warfare of the trolling type (...), we adopt this Code and undertake to comply with its provisions".
According to the Press Council, the public in the Republic of Moldova deserves a genuine debate, on a truly neutral platform, in which the moderators inspire credibility and equidistance. The Council calls on both of the presidential candidates "to show respect for the public and for the guild of honest journalists" and proposes that the debate should be held on the public television channel Moldova 1 and be moderated by professional and upright journalists.
The statement was signed by the Council of Experts, the Founders of the Press Council (Association of Independent Press, Independent Journalism Center, Electronic Press Association, Committee for the Freedom of the Press, Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul”). The list is open for signature. For confirmation, those interested send a message to consiliuldepresa@gmail.com.
The proposal for the presidential debate to be moderated by Gheorghe Gonța came from Alexandr Stoianoglo's team, and Maia Sandu accepted the condition. The decision generated a series of reactions, including from journalists, and, consequently, the Press Council published the statement. The day of the debate is yet to be decided. The sides formulated different proposals and the compromise solution is to hold this on Sunday, October 27, Maia Sandu said in an online video.
