Activity Details (ID# 15849)

Activity Synopsis

The general objective of the seminar was to examine the evolution of the relation between the state and the press in the context of the democratisation of the society; the protection of informational space and the right to freedom of expression; press access to official information; journalists’ professional self-regulation and its importance for the relation between the state and the press.

There were also a number of practical objectives:
a) analysis of problems regarding the development of the written press in the Republic of Moldova, freedom of expression, pluralism of opinions through the prism of relations between the state and the media;
b) promoting the principle of public interest in the process of supply of public information by public authorities;
c) sharing good practices, through the participation of Council of Europe experts, on the promotion of a non-discriminatory journalism;
d) contributing to the implementation of some efficient forms of self-regulation for the written press;
e) elaborating concrete proposals and recommendations aiming at improving the conditions of free and independent media functioning.
 

This was the first activity to treat the subject of access to information from the angle of improving the activity of state authorities with a view to actively inform the public through the media and involve it in the decision making process.

All experts delivered good presentations, the discussions were well targeted and the analysis of the existent problems was made through the prism of international standards and national legislation in force and new drafts elaborated by the civil society, namely a draft Law on Freedom of Expression and draft Law on Transparency in the Decision-making Process.

The activity had a very positive impact on the participants. One can mention inter alia:
a) a detailed discussion about principles of freedom of expression, pluralism of opinions and the role of the media in the context of democratisation of the society;
b) a thorough analysis of the concrete problems in the relations between the government and the media followed by proposals for current and long-term solutions;
c) a better understanding by the state representatives of the role and responsibilities of press departments and public relation departments aiming at optimising the process of informing the public through the press and the need to improve the legislation;
d) a better understanding by the journalists of the need to improve their professionalism, to consistently observe the principles of codes of ethics, and to avoid the journalistic substitute;
e) a continuation of a more efficient dialogue between public administration, civil society and the media.

The main objectives of the activity were achieved. Contributions of the CoE experts stimulated the debates on the matter. The organisation of the seminar by Acces-Info Centre was excellent.
 

At the end of the seminar, participants formulated a series of conclusions and recommendations concerning the application of the principle of transparency in the decision-making process. The participants agreed that the CoE should organise follow-up activities on the same topic in order to encourage the use of best practices in the domain of transparency in the decision-making process. One can mention inter alia the following recommendations:

- to rescind the Press Law and to elaborate and adopt the draft Law on Freedom of Expression, stipulating clear principles, according to international standards, regarding the development of a free and independent press and the achievement of pluralism of opinions;
- to elaborate and adopt a clear and efficient mechanism of journalists’ accreditation, insurance of journalists’ access to each meeting organised by the public institutions, including the judiciary;
- to clearly specify the mechanisms of classification and declassification of information;
- to establish some clear criteria regarding the social conditions of journalists’ activity and state responsibilities in this respect;
- to establish a series of measures to put an end to open and hidden censorship;
- for the Government to elaborate and adopt a Strategic program for communication between public institution – civil society – media, that would contain a section on the creation of best pre-conditions for media development, containing some efficient mechanisms (economically of fiscal) that encourage the development of the media;
- for the Government to ensure the permanent monitoring of the implementation of the Law on Access to Information and to adopt a de facto achievement of legislation in the field of access to information;
- to improve the activity of press services of public authorities as a mediator between the state and the press;
- for media institutions to develop and apply principles of self-regulation in the press, as an alternative to state regulations of journalists’ activity;
- to undertake further efforts aiming at the creation of one union for media professionals, in order to achieve a better protection of journalists.
 

Journalists from central and local press, representatives of civil society and public authorities/institutions 

Mr Tarmu Tammerk, Managing Director, Estonian Newspaper Association; Mr Mircea Toma, President of Media Monitoring Agency, Romania 

Eugen Cibotaru, Media Division, DG II