The Selection Committee announces the extension of the deadline for submitting folders to the open contest for electing Press Council members till December 10, 2009, both for journalistic environment candidates and rural media consumers’ representatives (outside Chisinau municipality).

Background information

The Press Council is an independent structure aiming at contributing to the growth of mass-media awareness towards media consumers, through the amiable settlement of disputes arising between publications and readers, promotion of quality journalism and observance of journalistic deontological principles on behalf of newspapers, magazines, news agencies or information portals.

The Press Council shall be made up of nine members, including four members standing for the journalistic environment (out of whom two shall represent the regions, including one from TAU Gagauz Yeri), and five members representing media consumers. Members of Press Council shall be appointed for a two-year mandate.

Selection terms

The candidates competing for Press Council membership which stand for the jounalistic environment shall be put forward by publications’ editorial boards (newspapers, magazines, news agencies, information portals), journalists’ professional organizations, organizations of media employers, other media NGOs.

The candidates competing for Press Council membership which represent rural media consumers (outside Chisinau municipality) shall be put forward by media consumer groups, trade unions, employers’ organizations, religious organizations, other NGOs.

The candidates should meet the following criteria:

• professionalism in the field he/she stands for;
• impartiality;
• lack of political partisanship;
• authority in the field;
• work experience of at least 3 years in the field he/she stands for;
• good knowledge of journalistic deontology.

The candidate’s folder shall include:

• a recent CV of the candidate;
• a reference letter explaining why the candidate meets the above mentioned criteria, signed by the Head and a representative of organization or institution recommending him/her (note: as for candidates put forward by consumer groups, the letter shall be signed by at least 5 people, indicating their contact details);
• writtent consent of the candidate regarding his/her availability to act as Press Council members.

The folder shall be sumbitted not later than December 10, 2009, 5.00 p.m., to the headquarters of Press Council Secretariate (77, Bucuresti str., Chisinau municipality) or to the email address: secretariat(at)consiliuldepresa.md.

Contact information: 22-09-96