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CALL on mass-media institutions from Republic of Moldova

Wed, 12 May 2010 13:44:00 +0300

Numerous mass-media consumers requested the Press Council to intervene for determining print and audio-visual press, as well as information portals, to stop diffusing slanderous messages sent as SMS by unknown persons during live shows on television or through comments posted on mass-media institutions websites.

The Press Council recalls that the freedom of expression is a democratic value protected by the European Convention for Human Rights, just as the right to defending reputation is. After examining similar cases during the sitting from May 6th this year, the Press Council issued a common appeal to all mass-media institutions from the country, urging mass-media to take additional measures for moderating messages (sms and comments to articles from websites) which contain direct attack upon the person, xenophobe statements, licentious language, other discriminatory and defamatory texts. In such a way, potential cases of blaming for defamation by means of mass-media shall be avoided, and press institutions shall prove their accountability towards the public.

CALL on journalists and mass-media institutions

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:11:00 +0200

Several mass-media institutions informed the Press Council about cases of unauthorized taking-over of articles and news items from electronic editions of newspapers and press agencies, infringing thus copyrights. The Press Council calls on all journalists and mass-media institutions to observe the provisions of the Law on copyright and related rights, as well as provisions of Codes of Ethics for journalists. We would like to recall the fact that the Law on copyright clearly defines „the author holds the exclusive copyright over his/her work, it resulting from the work’s creation by him/her”. R. Moldova’s Code of professional ethical principles of the journalist stipulates that plagiarism is inadmissible, and „the journalist shall make references to the author’s name every time he/she makes use of the author’s work, that is a work of his/her colleague, in a way or another”. At the same time, the Guidelines on style containing ethical norms recommends to the journalists not to record, multiply or distribute certain materials, unless „an agreement (oral or written) exists with the materials’ author as regards related rights” - consiliuldepresa.md/ro/documente-coduri.html. In the same order of ideas, the Press Council forbids print or electronic mass-media to take over photographic materials without the consent and reference to the source and/or author.

The Press Council recommends the modality employed by several European Union members regarding the free-of-charge taking-over of materials, consisting of borrowing utmost 500 characters, without exceeding half of the article or news item. In such cases, it is compulsory to quote the source and author of information, and present the direct link to the source. The integral taking-over of articles or news items can be done only basing on an agreement concluded with owner of the copyright.

Chairwoman of R. Moldova’s Press Council

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:13:00 +0200

During the sitting, Press Council members examined the Regulation on Council’s activity, including the operation mechanism, criteria of acceptance and ways of settling disputes arisen between publications and media consumers.

Press Council members voted unanimously for the appointment of Mrs. Ludmila Andronic as Chairwoman of the Council, the lady being the editor-in-chief of economic magazine „Business class”. The Chairwoman expressed her gratitude for the trust and urged all Council members to develop a strong cooperation to the benefit of press and media consumers from Moldova.

Also during the same sitting, the members approved the decision on the adherence of Press Council from R. Moldova to the European Alliance of Independent Press Councils.