Chișinău hosts SEE Media Forum: Pressures on the media highlighted
Chisinau served as the meeting point for several journalists from both our country and abroad for two days. They gathered for the South-Eastern Europe Media Forum (SEEMF), which this year focused on the theme "The enemies of the media and how to deal with them." During the forum, participants discussed the growing pressures on free media and explored new trends in investigative journalism.
Journalists have observed similar issues facing regional media.
“Each country has its own unique challenges, but to some extent, they are comparable. There is a regression in democracy and increased control over freedom of expression. Additionally, the economic situation and the migration of audiences to digital channels have created a more challenging environment,” says Snjezana Milivojevic, a journalist from Belgrade.
“In recent years, more investigations have been conducted by a consortium of journalists from various countries. Therefore, it’s crucial for us to know each other, stay in touch, and communicate, as the problems are nearly the same across all nations,” explains Bogdana Lazarova, a journalist at Bulgarian National Television.
Locally, media outlets are adapting to the evolving media landscape.
“We are working to meet the expectations of the 21st-century audience. Our goal is to transform public television and radio into institutions that provide information and content for all segments of the public, including young people and ethnic minorities in the Republic of Moldova,” mentions Cornel Ciobanu, the deputy general director of TRM.
The importance of protecting the press's freedom and independence was underscored.
"The Republic of Moldova has made significant progress in press freedom, moving from 40th place just five or six years ago to a much better position today. This is an exceptional achievement. However, these gains are quite fragile," notes Petru Macovei, the executive director of the Independent Press Association.
"The Republic of Moldova has indeed improved its ranking in press freedom from 40th place just five or six years ago. This remarkable progress is commendable. Nevertheless, the results remain fragile. The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion, acting as a "watchdog" that holds government officials accountable, including both those in power and those in opposition," said Liliana Nicolăescu-Onofrei, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee for Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sports, and Media.
The Southeast Europe Media Forum has reached its 19th edition, bringing together over a hundred participants from 16 countries.
