12 print press publishers and reporters from the south-western region of the country strengthened their knowledge during the training session „Human rights between the sensational and usefulness", held on November on 28 November 2014, in Hânceşti town.

The trainers Olivia Pîrţac and Ion Bunduchi spoke to the training participants about various aspects of human rights and mass-media, in terms of their preparation and interest shown. The trainers highlighted the following topics: fundamental human rights and their nature, inviolability and national and international protection mechanisms, basic duties of citizens and country at the international level, restrictions for the freedom of expression, respect for privacy and family life, public interest, presumption of innocence, protection of information sources, etc. The training was very interactive and, thus, the journalists were subject to a test with a view to assess their initial and final knowledge. In the end, the majority of trainees answered successfully to the 15 questions from the test. Additionally, the participants received answers to at least other 15 questions they addressed, invoking real situations from their professional activity.

Luminiţa Netedu, journalist at newspaper „Gazeta de sud”, has mentioned that most frequently she has to seek for solutions to problems inquired by citizens who address the editorial office: „Readers come to us and insist that their problems are solved instantly, they bring various documents and wish that we immediately give them a solution. If we tell them that we need time, that we must document ourselves first, and in other cases they might need to go to court – some of them become frustrated and leave. They believe that the newspaper is God and can make miracles”. O. Pârţac drew the attention to the fact that journalists must be really cautious in such situations: „Journalists must write about these cases, but not replace the court instance. Likewise, they must not promise too much to the citizens, since the journalists do not know if the latter are right, especially that the journalist does not frequently have a direct impact on solution of these problems. If acting in such a way, the journalist will remain reliable and trust-worthy, and the readers will understand that he/she has a different mission that that of a prosecutor or a judge”.

Veronica Gorea, journalist at newspaper „Expresul”, says she encountered difficulties in covering a case about a young girl who was discriminated at the kindergarten for reason that she originated from a vulnerable family: „ I was guided by experienced colleagues on how to approach this subject, I discussed with this girl and her mother, and we organized a mini-campaign for collecting money and clothes, and, in the long run, we managed to help this person.” I. Bunduchi mentioned that issues featuring children in difficult situations are difficult to accomplish: „We must be careful how we talk to them, how to write about children, it is important not to harm the child by disclosing his/her identity or other information which should not be made public”.

Throughout the year 2014, API organized four training sessions on mass-media and human rights in the following places: Chişinău, Bălţi, Soroca and Hânceşti. The events occurred under the project „Promotion of best practices for covering human rights in mass - media”, financed by Civil Right Defenders.