The need to adopt a new media law, the alignment of legislation with European standards, and the financial challenges facing the media in the Republic of Moldova were the main issues addressed during the public debate “The new media law: updates, benefits, risks”, organized by the IPN News Agency. Journalists and experts pointed out that the new law, which has been approved in its first reading, aims to create a clearer framework for both traditional and online media.
The project’s permanent expert, Igor Boțan, explained why the new law must take into account the diversification of platforms through which content is distributed. According to him, the media landscape is no longer limited to television, radio and print media, but also includes digital services.
“Media services represent the totality of channels and platforms that transmit information, entertainment, or culture to a broad audience. These include television, radio, print media and digital platforms, primarily classified into linear services (live broadcasts, such as TV/radio stations) and non-linear services (streaming or VOD platforms). VOD (Video on Demand) platforms are digital services that allow users to watch movies, series and shows at any time, without depending on a fixed broadcast schedule”, stated Igor Botan.
Tatiana Puiu, the Council of Europe’s media expert, noted that the current legislation no longer meets the realities of the journalistic environment. According to her, the draft of the new law is also designed to align the Republic of Moldova with European standards on media freedom and pluralism.
“Currently, the print press is regulated by the Press Law which was adopted back in 1994. At that time, the media space was dominated by printed publications and press agencies. Now for the online press, we largely have a legislative void. The project of the new mass media law is elaborated also in the context of recent developments of the European normative framework in the field of mass media. In the expansion reports of the European Commission, for the third year in a row, the need for the Republic of Moldova to consolidate the normative framework regarding the freedom and pluralism of the mass media was highlighted, including through the adoption of a modern law that ensures the transparency of mass media ownership”, explained Tatiana Puiu.
In the same context, journalist Viorica Zaharia noted that the small advertising market in the Republic of Moldova makes it difficult for editorial offices to self-finance, which is why they are forced to diversify their income sources and resort to external funding.
“Moldova is a small country, respectively with a small market. On such a market, it is very difficult to develop the media, so as to make a business out of it. Therefore, media institutions will always have this constant concern for survival. The media tries to diversify its sources of funding because you can hardly cover your expenses from subscriptions and advertising alone. Therefore, the press accesses grants, where possible, from development partners”, said Viorica Zaharia, the president of the Council of Experts, mandated by the Press Council to examine complaints about the violation of the provisions of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics.
The public debate “The new media law: updates, benefits, risks” is the 353rd edition in the series “Developing political culture in public debates”. The IPN Agency carries out this series with the support of the German Hanns Seidel Foundation.
