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”
Having taken knowledge of the media coverage with regard to the alleged rape committed at Râşnov resort center from Romania on January 4, 2012, Having examined, during the public sitting from January 10, 2012, several journalistic materials published and broadcast on this topic, including by TV channels - Jurnal TV, PRO TV Chisinau, and portals/websites of mass-media institutions - www.jurnal.md, www.adevarul.md, www.tv7.md, www.publika.md,
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
