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The appeal of media NGOs: We demand transparency, access to information of public interest and real reforms that would facilitate the development of mass media
12 August 2021
Onon-governmental organizations in the field of mass media request the new government of the Republic of Moldova to ensure the real transparency of the activity of public institutions and unrestricted access to information of public interest for journalists and mass media institutions, aspects that were neglected by the former government despite the repeated calls of NGOs and media outlets. Thus, we ask to exclude the practices so far, when people with public dignity function refuse to answer journalists' questions, ministries and agencies hesitate to organize press conferences, requests for access to information are given delayed or incomplete answers, and journalists they do not have access to meetings in the territory with mayors and other local elected officials and civil servants. Communication and transparency are essential elements of good governance, and the right to information and the right of journalists to obtain and disseminate information of public interest are guaranteed by the Constitution and current legislation. The media NGOs request the Parliament and the Government of the Republic of Moldova to implement real reforms, which would create conditions for the sustainable development of Moldovan journalism based on democratic and European principles. We remind you that some good draft laws are gathering dust in the drawers of the parliamentary committees, developed including with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe, but their adoption was blocked by the old government that protected interest groups and media owners, including politicians. This approach encouraged the massive use of media platforms for political promotion and the distribution of false information and led to the distortion of the media market by encouraging unfair competition and abuse of dominant positions. We request the inclusion on the agenda of the Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sports and Mass Media Commission of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and in the Action Plan for the implementation of the Government's Activity Program "Moldova vremuriler bone" the following objectives, which we consider absolutely necessary for reforming the media field: The finalization, approval and implementation of the National Media Development Program for the years 2021-2025 and the Action Plan for the implementation of the Program, developed in accordance with the National Concept for the Development of the Mass Media (Law No. 67 of July 26 2018); Completing the legislative and normative framework for excluding artificial impediments and facilitating access to information of public interest for representatives of media institutions (amending and completing the Law on access to information, the Law on freedom of expression, the Law on the protection of personal data, the Code civil, the Criminal Code, the Law on State Secrets, the Administrative Code, the Real Estate Cadastre Law, etc.); Improving practices for providing access to information of public interest, ensuring real transparency of data and opening databases for journalists accessing information of public interest; Improving the legislative and regulatory framework in the fields of advertising and competition on the media market, by adopting the draft of the new Advertising Law and the draft to supplement the Competition Law. The efficiency and accountability of the Competition Council in the investigation and sanctioning of cartel understandings and abuses of a dominant position in the media market and the advertising market; Revision of the legislative framework to ensure the real transparency of the beneficiary owners of mass media institutions and the sources of financing of audiovisual media service providers; Modifying the audience measurement procedures of audiovisual media service providers to guarantee the provision of truthful audience data and a fair competitive environment; Drafting and approval of amendments to the Code of Audiovisual Media Services to exclude political subordination and streamline the activities of the Audiovisual Council and the Supervisory Board of the Public Institution "Teleradio-Moldova" Company; Deep reform of the Public Institution "Teleradio-Moldova" Company and its transformation into an efficient company that ensures an independent and qualitative broadcast; Stopping broadcasting over the air starting from January 1, 2022 and strengthening the multiplex system, including through partial subsidization for the initial period of its cost for audiovisual media service providers; Examining, finalizing and approving the draft law for the establishment of the national system to support the development of independent mass media institutions of public utility, including those from the regions of the Republic of Moldova; Reorganization of the activity of Î.S. "Moldova Post" and facilitating the distribution and retail sale of domestic periodicals in all networks in the country; Revising the 2019-2024 Information Security Strategy and supplementing it with specific actions that would ensure the protection of the domestic information space from harmful informational interference from the outside; Evaluation of national legislation and European practices in the field of combating fake news, drafting and adopting legislative amendments in this regard, which would also ensure the operative and adequate reaction of public institutions to combat fake news; Completing the percentage designation mechanism ("2% law") by including media institutions as potential beneficiaries of the redirection of 2% of the income tax from individuals; Revising the provisions of the Electoral Code in the part aimed at the coverage of elections by the mass media, by excluding ambiguities and unifying the notions used to facilitate the activity of audiovisual media service providers during election periods. Independent Press Association Center for Journalistic Investigations Committee for Freedom of the Press "Access-info" Center Electronic Press Association Center for Independent Journalism RISE Moldova Association of Environmental Journalists and Ecological Tourism Association Media-Guard