The media outlets must be very attentive when they use information published on blogs of certain persons and must assume deontological responsibility for the republished content. Such a recommendation was made by the Press Council of Moldova after examining an application of the Supreme Council of Magistrates concerning the republishing of information from a blog on the website of the newspaper “Timpul de dimineata” (“Morning time”), IPN reports.
The Supreme Council of Magistrates informed the Press Council about the publication of a critical article about the naming of Liliana Catan as judge of the Supreme Court of Justice by the paper on its website and then by other media outlets. Liliana Catan asked the Council to intervene, saying the published information is not right and discredit her. On November 12, the Council adopted a decision, saying the published information affects the honor, dignity and professional reputation of the judge, and asked the Press Council to examine the case.
The Press Council requested the paper “Timpul de dimineata” to present observations and opinions over the notification of the Supreme Council of Magistrates. In response, the paper’s founder Constantin Tanase wrote that the given article was taken from a blog and the editorial staff made direct reference to the source, while the decision to republish the article was taken after verifying the information and based on the conviction that it is true and is of public interest. He also said that when the article was republished, the editorial staff didn’t manage to obtain the judge’s reaction, but expressed afterward their readiness to offer her the right to reply. This proposal was then rejected by the judge. The editorial staff reiterated the proposal to publish a reply to this article if the right to reply is asked for.
In its decision, the Press Council recommended judge Liliana Catan to make use of the right to reply, and the paper “Timpul de dimineata” to publish the reply, as provided in the Journalist’s Deontological Code.
As a result of this case, the members of the Press Council called on the editorial staffs and journalists to use information only from blogs whose authors can be identified and use a direct link to the source, and to put the republished articles in the opinion sections. If they contain accusations against other persons, the information should be verified, while the persons concerned should be offered the right to reply.
