In 2024, the media situation in the Republic of Moldova was marked by serious problems, according to the Media Situation Index (MSI) launched by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) on Monday, February 24. The scores of the 2024 ISPM report slightly decreased, contrary to the gradual upward trend observed between 2021 and 2023.
This document has been compiled for the ninth consecutive year and provides a diagnosis of the media landscape, specifying issues and key developments in the Republic of Moldova’s media sector. The state of domestic media in 2024 was rated by 14 evaluators with 31.6 points, 1.07 points less than the previous year. This score surpasses half the 60 points needed to confirm that media legislation is sufficient and effective, that the press operates in favorable economic conditions, and that journalists work in complete security.
The report highlights, among other things, that the legislative acts relevant to the media sector, both existing and introduced in 2024, such as the Media Subsidy Fund Law, are not enough to ensure a balanced and transparent media system. The main legislative gaps identified by evaluators are related to the lack of regulation of digital media and the online domain in general. The defective application of legislation remains a major problem, most notably undermining access to public-interest information.
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Furthermore, MSI evaluators highlighted the alarming rise in public attacks and defamatory messages launched during the 2024 election campaigns, aiming to undermine the reputation of media professionals. Despite these pressures, independent media institutions continued to expose foreign interference and electoral corruption.
The study also reveals how the tense political, social, and economic context throughout 2024 influenced the media’s activity.
The MSI methodology includes seven relevant indicators for Moldova’s media realities: the legal regulatory framework, the political context, the economic environment, the professional environment, the quality of journalism, information security from a media perspective, and the security of journalists. This methodology allows for a comprehensive analysis of the press, as well as each separate aspect, and helps determine areas that require intervention to improve the working conditions of the media so that it can fulfill its responsibilities. The annual publication of the Index shows the evolution, or in some cases, the deterioration of the situation over time.
Finally, the document contains a set of recommendations that could improve the situation, including:
- Adopting specific online media regulations and digital platforms aligned with the EU Digital Services Regulation.
- Improving mechanisms for ensuring, defending, and monitoring the right to access public-interest information.
- Rapidly transposing the anti-SLAPP directive into national legislation.
- Creating clear mechanisms for preventing and sanctioning abuses by local authorities against media institutions, including a rapid reporting and intervention mechanism for cases of intimidation or censorship.
- Developing public policies to facilitate citizens’ access to subscriptions for independent media, including tax deductions for journalistic publications or supporting membership and crowdfunding initiatives for editorial offices.
- Implementing a credible audience measurement system to ensure a more equitable distribution of advertising revenues.
- Strengthening editorial independence through self-regulation mechanisms, including increasing the capacity of the Press Council and encouraging media outlets to adhere to rigorous journalistic standards.
- Implementing an interministerial plan for integrating Information and Media Literacy actions into the action plans of relevant state institutions and developing accessible media education programs for the general public, including vulnerable groups of any age exposed to propaganda.