Moldova Media-M program

Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova

Freedom House is a proud partner of Internews in implementing the multi-year Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova ( MEDIA-M ) project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and UK Aid. Through collaboration with partner civil society organizations in the country, Freedom House aims to boost capacity in civil society to effectively monitor media and to improve the legal and regulatory environment for independent media. Freedom House’s activities address objective 2, which strives to build consumer understanding of independent, reliable, and high quality news, and objective 3, which intends to foster a regulatory environment in which independent media and media support organizations can thrive.

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Program Initiatives

Access to Information Report

First Edition: November 2021

Access to information is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of Moldova and the country’s legislation. However, the Moldovan government has not ensured the effective implementation of this right, failing to establish adequate legislative requirements that clearly define the content authorities must share, or to properly justify restrictions on information access. These are among the most significant conclusions of Freedom House’s new special report Freedom of Information Index : Measuring Transparency of Public Institutions in Moldova . This first annual report, published in November 2021, represents the first comprehensive review of the state of access to information in Moldova, and draws on an original methodological approach inspired by international standards and best practices.

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Presentation of the Access to Information Report (Romanian)
Presentation of the Access to Information Report (English)

Second Edition: November 2022

The second annual Access to Information report uses the same methodological approach to measure the change in the performance of public institutions in ensuring the right to information and introduces a new chapter on the progress of the Moldovan government in implementing the Tromsø Convention. The report’s results reveal that the legislation and implementation of the right of information in Moldova continue to come short of international standards and best practices. Systemic deficiencies in the disclosure of public information as well as inadequate institutional compliance threaten government accountability and require a comprehensive legislative framework that prioritizes proactive transparency and stronger, coordinated enforcement mechanisms.

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Presentation of the Second Edition of Access to Information Report (Romanian)
Presentation of the Second Edition of Access to Information Report ( English)

Report on Media Freedom in Moldova 2020

In 2020, the legal framework governing Moldova’s media sector remained underdeveloped and poorly enforced, and prominent politicians regularly stonewalled journalists’ attempts to obtain information of public interest, including as relates to the pandemic. These are a few conclusions of Freedom House’s new Report on Media in Moldova , which draws on analysis and data from Freedom House’s Freedom in the World and Nations in Transit publications covering events from 2020. Read the full report here.

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Strategic Litigation for Freedom of Access to Information

Freedom House partner Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) defends freedom of access to public interest information in Moldova’s courts, targeting state institutions which refuse to provide information of public record. Each of LHR’s legal victories has a life beyond the specifics of the given cases, creating important legal precedents that will continue to govern the behavior of government agencies far into the future.

LHR’s Vreauinfo.md platform aims to facilitate submission of FOIA requests by journalists and other members of Moldovan society. The platform engages citizens to make use of Moldova’s Access to Information Act by helping to lower the barriers that prevent citizens from requesting information from those in power.

Media Policy Forum

This year, the Media Policy Forum was a component of Media Forum 2022, held by Freedom House and the Press Council of the Republic of Moldova on November 22-23, 2022. At the event, experts representing Moldovan civil society, independent media, government, academic institutions, and the international community discussed the latest developments in Moldova’s media landscape including the transparency of public institutions, challenges of wartime journalism, and harassment of journalists.

Media Forum 2022 was made possible by the support of the Soros Foundation–Moldova and by USAID and the British Embassy in Chisinau through the MEDIA-M program, which is implemented by Internews in partnership with Freedom House and the Independent Journalism Center.

Freedom House’s panel discussion featured a presentation of the findings of the second report on access to information and offered the opportunity for experts to examine obstacles to the freedom of information in Moldova.

Advocacy Grants: Media Freedom Matters

Freedom House and partners provide small advocacy grants to local organizations to improve their ability to raise awareness about the legal and regulatory environment for media. Campaigns may include swift responses to proposed legislation threatening fundamental freedoms or longer-term advocacy initiatives to educate the public about freedom of expression and press freedom.

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Program Publications

Freedom of Expression and the Geopolitical Stalemate: Defending Digital Spaces in the Republic of Moldova

Moldova, like its neighbors in the region, faces challenges and threats to its national security due to the pervasive nature of media and information manipulation instigated by both internal and external actors. This challenge is particularly acute in digital spaces, where misinformation and polarized debate fomented by trolls and other impersonators seriously undercut the security and integrity of the public’s access to objective information. This toxic informational environment also fosters high levels of hate speech. This policy brief by local expert Victoria Rosa examines the trends and proliferation of freedom of expression online in Moldova, as well as the most acute challenges and threats, with an emphasis on information security. The brief examines the current legislative framework governing information security in Moldova, as well as the important efforts by civil society organizations (CSOs) to identify and draw attention to disinformation and fake news in the country’s digital space. It concludes with targeted recommendations for government, civil society, and the media community.

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Reform of Oversight Mechanisms: Bolstering Media Freedom in Moldova

Freedom House engages top international experts to provide analysis and support to ensure that Moldovan frameworks uphold the highest standards for freedom of expression. Freedom House’s Local Representative, Tatiana Puiu, co-chaired the Parliamentary Working Group on audiovisual legislation, which concluded activities in December 2019. The working group contributed to several pieces of legislation that have passed into law, including the National Concept of Media Development, the Law on Attracting Investment for Film and Other Audiovisual Works Production, the Audiovisual Media Services Code and the Information Security Concept.

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