Polish experts appreciate local press in Moldova

Polish experts found that unfair competition manifested by pro-governmental press is the biggest impediment of the local press in Moldova. This rivalry sets the development of the local press back, experts say, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. During a press conference, following a project entitled “Local Independent Newspaper as Small Enterprise and Advocacy Institution”, implemented by the Poland-based East-European Centre for Democracy and Independent Press Association (IPA) from Moldova, ex-Ambassador of Poland to Moldova, coordinator of this project, Piotr Marciniak, stated that he is impressed with the local independent press in Moldova, which realised what civil responsibility and principles of independence and democracy are. Piotr Marciniak says that many local newspapers in Moldova face difficulties, especially financial ones, but manage to keep up. Expert Agnieska Nowinska stated that she has been working with the local press in many former soviet republics, including Moldova. She mentioned that many Moldovan newspapers are truly independent, becoming a pillar for democracy. “The conditions in which these newspapers find themselves are very severe, so that their independence is an act of sacrifice”, Nowinska added. Expert Arkadius Gruchot said that the independent local press survives under the conditions of a rivalry manifested by the pro-governmental press that is favoured from all viewpoints and is not exposed to the influence of the market relations. The experts arrived in Moldova to assess the project “Local Independent Newspaper as Small Enterprise and Advocacy Institution”, which, as IPA director Petru Macovei states, was carried out in the second half of this year. Within the project, managers, chief editors, reporters and sales managers of 12 local independent newspapers participated in three trainings. Polish experts have selected five independent periodicals from the number of participants: “SP” (Balti), “Unghiul” (Ungheni), “Observatorul de Nord” (Soroca), “Glia Drochiana” (Drochia) and “Ecoul Nostru” (Glodeni). These newspapers, as Macovei says, will further benefit from complex assistance on the part of the Polish experts. He stated that Moldovan journalists got familiar with the experience of the local press in Poland that is at a higher development level. At the same time, these local Moldovan publications have received advanced computers and licensed software. Project coordinator Piotr Marciniak voiced his readiness to extend this project and to further cooperate with IPA. “Local Independent Newspaper as Small Enterprise and Advocacy Institution” within the Programme “Polish-Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), was financed by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CIDA.