The COVID-19 pandemic that affected Moldova as well requires the journalists to abide by new rules concerning the accuracy of information, verification of facts and correctness of the used vocabulary. In this connection, the Press Council requests the editorial offices not to allow discrimination or hate speech in comments on news articles about the COVID-19 pandemic, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Press Council says given that the elderly people are among the most susceptible to the infection, the reports on the issue should be maximally prudent and respectful of human dignity so as not to create mistaken perceptions and not to generate discriminatory comments or even comments that incite hatred toward this social group.

Also, following Moldovan expats’ requests to the authorities to provide transport for them to return home, negative attitudes, sometimes with elements of hate speech, against representatives of the diaspora, who are regarded as potential hotbeds of infection, have been seen recently on social networking sites or in comments on online articles. In some of the cases, these comments are generated by statements of high-ranking officials.

The Press Council calls on the journalists and editorial offices to treat the subjects concerning these categories of persons, in the context of the pandemic, with maximum responsibility and accuracy and to appropriately manage the comments on articles places on the websites or Facebook pages of media outlets. The appropriate moderation of comments, in accordance with the Journalist’s Deontological Code of the Republic of Moldova (point 2.39) would prevent the publication and spread of discriminatory messages and messages that incite hatred. The editorial offices are responsible for the broadcast journalistic content and for the content of comments placed by the public in reaction to articles.