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Press Council: PRO TV Chişinău, Jurnal TV and Prime TV infringed deontology norms while covering the suicide of 12-year-old girl

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:37:00 +0300

During April 18 - 19, 2012, the Press Council from Republic of Moldova has been monitoring the broadcasting of the suicide act committed by the 12-year-old girl from Negureni village, Teleneşti district, by Moldovan television channels, and worryingly concluded that PRO TV Chişinău, Jurnal TV and Prime TV infringed the deontology norms while covering the concerned subject. Thus, the reports produced by journalists Veronica Gherboveţchi (PRO TV Chişinău)[1], Nadia Bocan (Jurnal TV)[2] and Svetlana Turcu (Prime TV)[3], broadcast in news bulletins and posted on websites of the mentioned TV channels, seriously violated the deontology principles of information truthfulness, balanced presentation as well as data check-up (Articles 2.1 and 2.5 of the Journalist’s Deontology Code from Republic of Moldova[4]). The journalists and the TV channels interfered with the private life of the victim, and brought considerable damage to her dignity by publishing unconfirmed and unchecked information, furnishing details on suicide techniques and failing to ensure the protection of victim’s identity, as well as the identity of other infants in the context of a negative occurrence, thus, seriously breaking Articles 4.1, 4.5 and 4.13 of the Deontology Code. The Press Council draws the attention of the management of PRO TV Chişinău, Jurnal TV and Prime TV, including editors and reporters, to the inconceivableness of mirroring such reports from the point of view of sensation, without grounding on meticulous documentation and without pertinent comments on behalf of professionals, psychologists, social assistants or, if necessary, teachers. The Press Council recalls that journalists are to serve the public interest, and the latter does not consist of or limit itself to the curiosity of learning morbid details and alleged but non-verified facts. Moldova Press Council recommends the television channels PRO TV Chişinău, Jurnal TV and Prime TV, the reporters Veronica Gherboveţchi, Nadia Bocan and Svetlana Turcu, to exclude practices of unprofessionally covering negative events from their activity, and defend the rights as well as respect the dignity of persons they report about. The outcomes of monitoring the coverage of 12-year-old girl’s suicide were examined during the public sitting of the Press Council from Republic of Moldova on April 27, 2012.
Press Council Secretariat: 77 Bucureşti str., Chisinau, tel.: (22) 220996, secretariat@consiliuldepresa.md www.consiliuldepresa.md
The Press Council is a journalistic self-regulatory mechanism, established for enhancing the accountability of mass-media from Republic of Moldova towards the public, settling the disputes arisen between mass-media institutions and consumers amicably, nurturing the mutual dialogue and respect between press and media consumers, promoting quality journalism and the observance of professional standards and journalistic deontology by mass-media institutions and journalists. According to the Journalist’s Deontology Code from Republic of Moldova, the Press Council shall monitor the correctness of applying provisions of Journalist’s Deontology Code and examine the complaints associated to the infringements of the above mentioned provisions. The Press Council is a representative entity consisting of 9 members elected as a result of a public contest. Four members stand for the journalistic environment, whereas five members represent the media consumers.

[1] http://m.protv.md/stiri/social/fetita-de-12-ani-gasita-spanzurata-in-sopronul-din-curte-surse.html

[2] http://www.jurnaltv.md/ro/news/spanzurata-in-sopron-354152/

[3] http://prime.md/ro/news/s-a-spanzurat-la-12-ani-tragedie-in-negureni-telene-ti-2015454/

[4] http://consiliuldepresa.md/fileadmin/fisiere/fisiere/Cod_deontologic_al_jurnalistului_din_Republica_final.pdf

Press Council: Jurnal TV is bound to publicly apologize for how it mirrored the suicide of the 18-year-old girl from Bâc locality

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:35:00 +0300

During the public sitting held on April 27, 2012, the Press Council from Republic of Moldova examined a complaint against the TV channel Jurnal TV which broadcast, on April 9, 2012, the suicide of an 18-year-old girl from Bâc locality. It worryingly concludes that, while reporting on the concerned subject, the deontology norms and good journalistic practices were seriously infringed. Thus, the report produced by the journalist Sofia Obadă, broadcast in Jurnal TV news bulletins and posted on the website www.jurnaltv.md[1], seriously violates the deontology principles of information truthfulness, balanced presentation as well as data check-up (Articles 2.1, 2.2, 2.5 of the Journalist’s Deontology Code from Republica Moldova[2]). The journalist and the TV channel interfered in the private life of the victim and her mother, and brought considerable harm to their dignity by publishing unconfirmed and untruthful information, seriously breaking Article 4.1 of the Deontology Code. Contrary to provisions of Article 2.12 of the Deontology Code, Jurnal TV channel did not provide the victim’s mother with the right to retort, although the report includes direct and indirect accusations addressed to her. Moldova Press Council requests the management of Jurnal TV channel to initiate an internal investigation and punish the editor and the reporter who allowed the unprofessional coverage of the suject. The Press Council urges Jurnal TV to publicly apologize to the mother of the victim, remove the report „S-a spânzurat din cauza mamei?” (Eng: Hung herself because of mother?) from the website and broadcast a material that would regain the dignity of the mother and her dead daughter. Taking into account the fact that, lately, the Press Council has repeatedly examined numerous complaints with a similar content against Jurnal TV, the Press Council publicly calls upon the Broadcasting Coordination Council to monitor Jurnal TV as regards the observance of human rights, obligation foreseen as well by the Broadcasting Code, applying all punishments foreseen by the law in relation to this broadcaster.
Press Council Secretariat: 77 Bucureşti str., Chisinau, tel.: (22) 220996, secretariat@consiliuldepresa.md www.consiliuldepresa.md The Press Council is a journalistic self-regulatory mechanism, established for enhancing the accountability of mass-media from Republic of Moldova towards the public, settling the disputes arisen between mass-media institutions and consumers amicably, nurturing the mutual dialogue and respect between press and media consumers, promoting quality journalism and the observance of professional standards and journalistic deontology by mass-media institutions and journalists. According to the Journalist’s Deontology Code from Republic of Moldova, the Press Council shall monitor the correctness of applying provisions of Journalist’s Deontology Code and examine the complaints associated to the infringements of the above mentioned provisions. The Press Council is a representative entity consisting of 9 members elected as a result of a public contest. Four members stand for the journalistic environment, whereas five members represent the media consumers.

[1] http://www.jurnaltv.md/ro/news/s-a-spanzurat-din-cauza-mamei-352019/#

[2] http://consiliuldepresa.md/fileadmin/fisiere/fisiere/Cod_deontologic_al_jurnalistului_din_Republica_final.pdf

Meeting of the Regional Network of the Press Councils

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:45:00 +0300

Participants of the meeting presented current developments in their respective press councils and discussed issues related to elections and the media – professional challenges for journalists during the coverage of electoral process. Parties to the meeting approved the Declaration against discrimination on any ground by media professionals, effective mechanisms in this regard being a proper implementation of relevant codes of ethics for journalists and affiliation thereto. To this end the declaration called on media professionals to join the existing national platforms of self-regulation and to abide by them. During the meeting different organisational issues concerning the structure and mode of functioning of the Network were also discussed. The General Assembly comprising of one member from each country will henceforth ensure the proper administration of the Network. Iren Aloyan, legal expert of Yerevan Press Club from Armenia was elected in the position of Executive Secretary of the Network during one year. Furthermore, all interested people will soon be able to join the Network on web-page and Facebook, which will also be used as one of the coordination tools during its current activities. An informal Regional Network of the Press Councils of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine was set up in June 2011 in Chisinau (Moldova), with the support of the Council of Europe and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Press Councils signed later the same year. Press Council of Tajikistan joined the Network in October 2011.

Ludmila Andronic re-elected as Press Council Chairwoman

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:53:00 +0300

During the first sitting of Moldova Press Council in its new composition, which took place on Tuesday, March 20 this year, Ludmila Andronic has been re-elected as the Chairwoman of the Press Council. She has held this title since January 2010 till present and has been repeatedly elected for another two-year mandate.

New Press Council members elected

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:06:00 +0200

Thus, the new composition of R. Moldova Press Council is as follows: - Representatives of the journalistic environment – Ludmila Andronic, forwarded by „Radio 7” radio station Tudor Iaşcenco, forwarded by the editorial office of „Observatorul de Nord” newspaper Maria Parfionova, forwarded by „Radio Gagauzia” radio station Dumitru Ciorici, forwarded by Interact Media SRL - Representatives of mass-media product consumers – Daniela Sîmboteanu, forwarded by the National Child Abuse Prevention Center Georgeta Stepanov, forwarded by the Faculty of Journalism and Science of Communication, Moldova State University Inga Burlacu, forwarded by a group of 10 mass-media product consumers Mircea Eşanu, forwarded by the Corruption Analysis and Prevention Center (CAPC) and the National Transparency and Human Rights Center (CNTDO) Eugenia Tofan, forwarded by the Academy of Sciences of Moldova
Overall, 14 candidates enrolled in the competition for nine Press Council vacancies. The first sitting of the Press Council in its new composition shall be conducted on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

Six of the nine Press Council members elected

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:14:00 +0200

Thus, the following members of R. Moldova’s Press Council for the period February 2012-February 2014 have been elected: - as delegates of the journalistic environment – Ludmila Andronic, forwarded by „Radio 7” radio station Tudor Iaşcenco, forwarded by the editorial office of „Observatorul de Nord” newspaper Maria Parfionova, forwarded by „Radio Gagauzia” radio station as delegates of mass-media product consumers – Daniela Sîmboteanu, forwarded by the National Child Abuse Prevention Center Georgeta Stepanov, forwarded by the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of Moldova State University Inga Burlacu, forwarded by a group of mass-media product consumers. An additional contest shall be announced for the remaining Press Council vacancies (a representative of the journalistic environment on behalf of national mass-media institutions and two representatives of mass-media product consumers).

Decision of Moldova Press Council „On the infringement of provisions of Journalist’s Deontology Code from R. Moldova while covering in media the alleged rape at Râşnov resort center in Romania”

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:57:00 +0200

Having noticed that some mass-media institutions from Republic of Moldova borrowed the information about the concerned case spread by Romanian mass-media,
Having taken into consideration the legal opinion expressed by the legal expert (invited by Press Council) on the margin of this case, grounding on the provisions of the Journalist’s Deontology Code from Republic of Moldova,
Press Council from Republic of Moldova adopts the hereby resolution:
1. It is concluded that, while covering the alleged rape at Râşnov resort center from Romania, numerous mass-media institutions from Republic of Moldova violated the provisions of Journalist’s Deontology Code, including Articles 4.1 and 4.2: The journalist is obliged to observe the person’s right to private life and dignity. Interference in private life is allowed only when the public interest in disclosing facts prevails over the protection of person’s identity; Article 4.9: The journalist shall observe the presumption of innocence and deem any person not-guilty until the pronouncing of his/her final and irrevocable sentence; Article 4.11: The journalist shall not unveil the identity of victims of accidents, natural disasters, crimes, especially sexual aggression.
2. Moldova Press Council calls upon all mass-media institutions that have mirrored the alleged rape at Râşnov resort center from Romania to edit the publishing content of materials posted on websites and exclude the information/data/images that reveal or are able to reveal the victim’s identity; as well, to ensure the observance of presumption of innocence in relation to the person suspect of rape.
3. Moldova Press Council requires mass-media institutions from R. Moldova to exclude ungrounded interference in the private life of persons happening to be in vulnerable situations. The disclosure of identity of a sexual aggression victim is inadmissible and contrary to deontology norms and professional journalism good practices. The ethical principle of presumption of innocence must be observed by journalists in all cases, including in situations when law-enforcement and prosecutor’s bodies fail to do so.
4. Moldova Press Council calls upon the Media Organizations Convention from Romania with the proposal to draft a common statement addressing mass-media institutions from R. Moldova and Romania on the infringements of journalistic deontology while mirroring this case in the media.
5. Moldova Press Council addresses the Broadcasting Coordination Council, as representative and legal warrant of the public interest in broadcasting, with the request to conduct a monitoring of the process of covering the alleged rape at Râşnov resort center from Romania by radio-broadcasters from Republic of Moldova, and take the necessary steps.
6. Moldova Press Council requests all mass-media institutions from R. Moldova to publish the hereby decision on their websites or in newspapers/magazines.
7. The resolution can be disputed within 20 days by addressing Press Council founders.

Ludmila Andronic,
Chairwoman of R. Moldova’s Press Council
Chisinau municipality, January 10, 2012 Decision of Moldova Press Council january 10, 2012

Press Council published the brochure „Journalist Self-Regulation Practices in the New Democracies”

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:07:00 +0200

The brochure encompasses as well interviews with the participants, brief depictions of cases that were jointly examined by experts from different countries, as well as a description of activities of Press Councils from the six participating countries.
During the meeting, the representatives of self-regulatory mechanisms from the six countries held discussions and shared opinions on the topics related to presumption of innocence and the right to private life in mass-media.
The authors truly hope that the information from this compilation shall be useful for journalists, university teachers, students, etc., from numerous countries.
The printed version of the brochure in English language, in 500 copies, shall be sent to the address of self-regulatory structures from the countries involved in the reunion.
The publication has been published with the support of the UNESCO Office in Moscow for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Russia.„Journalist Self-Regulation Practices in the New Democracies”

The brochure „Journalist Self-Regulation Practices in the New Democracies”

„Jurnal” TV cameraman aggressed in Chisinau downtown

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:28:00 +0200

Alexandru Gurdila, one of the producers of „Deşteptarea” show from „Jurnal” TV, informed that he was shooting, together with the cameraman Ion Diviza, several persons who were browsing the Internet at their laptops in the public Garden „Ştefan cel Mare” from Chisinau, in the view of producing a material for the show.

„I understood that the concerned citizen did not approve the idea of being recorded on camera. For that reason, we went farther and were shooting people with laptops from distance”, Gurdila added for Monitor Media Agency.

„This thing has probably bothered the citizen since he started to insult us and, getting closer, he began to hit the camera and the cameraman”, Gurdila specified, stating that the riflemen who were passing by did not react at all although the shooting crew asked for help.

„In my opinion, we did not violate the intimacy of the respective citizen since we were shooting in a public place, and we could have not recorded him on camera at all”, Alexandru Gurdila concluded.

At the journalists’ request, the police came to the spot, appeasing the conflict. The case is being investigated by Buiucani Police Commissariat from Chisinau.

Chisinau hosted a regional reunion of Press Councils on the topic of presumption of innocence and the right to private life in mass-media

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:44:00 +0200

The encounter began with the ordinary sitting of Republic of Moldova Press Council, allowing the representatives of journalistic self-regulatory structures from other countries to take notice of the practices employed for examining complaints against mass-media institutions in our country.

Further on, each participant presented specific incidents of infringing the deontology principles (presumption of innocence and right to private life) by mass-media institutions in their country, complaints filed by mass-media product consumers, decisions adopted by the Press Council and their impact. The participants jointly examined those specific cases and exchanged opinions as regards the modalities to enhance self-regulatory efficiency in the field of mass-media. The reunion was attended as well by the expert of the Council of Europe, Ioana Avădani, director of the Independent Journalism Center in Romania, who came forth with similar examples from Romania as well as with European recommendations on the observance of presumption of innocence and the right to private life by mass-media.

The representatives of journalistic self-regulatory structures expressed their worry in relation to the fact that, out of commercial and rating judgments, mass-media institutions frequently violate the journalistic ethics norms, excelling in conveying negative messages and images, including morbid details and violence.

At the end of the event, the participants highlighted the usefulness of such common sittings for strengthening the capacities of journalistic self-regulatory mechanisms, meant to raise the awareness of mass-media and mediate the dialogue between the press and the public, grounded on mutual respect. The regional reunion of Press Council representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine took place on November 23-24 this year, and was financed by the UNESCO Office in Moscow.