Six more editorial offices and a blog have signed the updated Journalist’s Deontological Code of Moldova within the campaign “Press can be responsible. We sign the Deontological Code!” that was launched by the Press Council. These are: TV8 channel, Radio Plai, Ziarulnational.md, TV8.md, Buzz.md, paper ”Adevarul de Anenii Noi” and the blog Elenarobu.md, IPN reports, with reference to a press release of the Council.
According to TV8 journalist Mariana Rata, the signing of the document is important because this makes the journalists more responsible. It is regrettable that some of the media outlets haven’t yet signed the Code, but these are probably those institutions that daily violate the provisions of the document. Even if one does not sign this Code, it does not mean that they are freed from responsibility for not respecting this. The Deontological Code works everywhere in the world and its provisions, especially after they were amended, meet the journalistic standards everywhere.
Lucia Bacalu, director of the local newspaper “Expresul de Ungheni”, said that regrettably, not even the Code can make the journalists more responsible if these lack common sense and professionalism. “The signing of the Code is rather a symbolic gesture and a prof that one shares the values and provisions of this document,” noted the journalist.
Cornelia Cozonac, director of the Journalistic Investigations Center that signed the Deontological Code, said it is important that all the editorial offices and journalists apart sign the Code as there will be more correctness in the press when there are common rules for journalists. The Deontological Code is also a self-regulatory instrument. “The journalists should regulate the activity depending on the conduct of the media. If another body comes to regulate our activity, this will be interference. We, the press, enjoy freedom that means a lot,” she stated.
The Press Council calls on the editorial offices that haven’t yet publicity stated their adherence to the professional norms to sign the Deontological Code by sending a confirmatory message to the email address of the Press Council’s Secretariat or by filling out a form on www.consiliuldepresa.md.
The Press Council encourages the signatory editorial offices to inform the public about the signing of the Code by posting a relevant mention on their website or someway else, depending on the media platform they represent.
So far the Code has been signed by 104 mass media organizations and outlets.
