SCSMCM Program favored development of investigative journalism in Moldova, Petru Macovei

The Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity in Moldova Program (SCSMCM) was beneficial to the development of the Moldovan investigative journalism, the executive director of the Independent Press Association (API) Petru Macovei said at a conference held to sum up the results of the program, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Petru Macovei, training courses for over 70 journalists who wanted to specialize in the investigation of corruption and embezzlement of public money had been given during a year. Extensive assistance was offered to starting journalists, including high school and university students that make the first steps in this area and to journalists that have been writing investigation stories for many years. The program also offered the civil society the chance of promoting positive policies in the area of mass media. “For the mass media to become a partner of the authorities, who presumably have a sincere wish to combat corruption, the economic capacity of the press should be strengthened. For the purpose, a number of bills were drafted last year with the aim of improving the economic situation of the press,” Petru Macovei said. The API director thinks that measures should be further taken to improve the quality of journalism in Moldova, first of all of investigative journalism. More programs aimed at supporting the journalists that carry out investigations should be promoted. All the levers should be used so that the people’s right to be informed is guaranteed, while the civil servants do not limit the journalist’s right to have access to public information used for documentation. Mechanisms should be identified for the authorities to react to published investigation stories that reveal schemes to misappropriate public money or corruption schemes at different levels, Petru Macovei considers. The civil society also insists on the expansion of awareness raising campaigns on corruption and the importance of anyone monitoring the use of public money. The Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring Capacity in Moldova Program was implemented by the Academy for Educational Development with the technical assistance of the International Research and Exchanges Board. It was financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation and managed by the United State Agency for International Development as part of the Threshold Country Program for Moldova.