MOLDOVA FELL ONE POSITION IN PRESS FREEDOM INDEX

Moldova ranked the 81st place among 180 world countries in the Press Freedom Rating, which is annually compiled by the organization “Reporters Without Borders”. In comparison to 2017, the republic climbed down one position, with an index of 30.08 points (+0.4%).

According to the organization website, the index rates are calculated on the basis of journalists’ working conditions and the self-censure, the condition of legal defense, media outlets’ independence, as well as their diversity. Each country gets a point on a 100-point scale; the higher is the point the worse is the state of things in the country.

According to organization, the Moldovan media are various, but very polarized, just as the entire country is, which is characterized by economic instability and excessive influence of its oligarchs.

“The editorial policy of Moldova’s leading media is closely connected with political and business interests of their owners. The journalist independence and media ownership are serious problems. As the media outlets are fighting one another in the conditions of Ukrainian crisis aggravation, lack of independence of the broadcasting regulatory agency and the punishment in the propaganda combating still raise concern”, the Reporters Without Borders’ report says.

As for the situation in the field of media freedom in Europe, it also worsened. According to human right activists, this concerns 42% countries.

“The democracies need discussions and criticism. Those, who spread hatred against journalists and call into question trust in the media in general, deliberately destroy the basis of democratic society”, said representative of the Reporters Without Borders Katja Gloger.

The 2018 rating is headed by Norway, then Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Switzerland come. The list is closed by China (176), Syria (177), Turkmenistan (178), Eritrea (179) and Cyprus (180).

Romania ranked the 44th, Ukraine – 101st, Russia – 148th.