Ooni Koda
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Newsfeed
  4. /
  5. Media Freedom Report Romania: Political Influence, Legal Intimidation,...

Media Freedom Report Romania: Political Influence, Legal Intimidation, And Online Harassment

May 13, 2024

  In a year with four rounds of elections, the press in Romania faces a series of issues affecting journalists’ independence, mentions an international report analyzing press freedom in Romania.   The report was conducted by the International Press Institute (IPI) and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), following meetings held in January with journalists, members of regulatory institutions, civil society and lawyers. The document also make recommendations for authorities to implement.   Among the main issues facing the press in Romania, the report mentions: The toxic influence exerted by political parties through the use of public funds to purchase advertising space on websites. An alarming trend of using SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) lawsuits against the press. A growing wave of online harassment against journalists and their sources.   The authors of the report mention that “Romania has one of the most dynamic media sectors in south-eastern Europe, boasting a diverse and rapidly evolving landscape. A handful of powerful companies dominate the mainstream media and, while they are independent, their political coverage has been criticised for being corrupted by a large influx of political money that creates a pliable and clientelist media culture.”   The report underlines that local journalism, though, faces the biggest crisis where most of the media are effectively captured by politicians as a result of their dependence on government advertising funds. “Some 90% of media, working on shoestring budgets for an ever-shrinking audience, have become public relations vehicles for the town mayors.”   Also, another existing danger mentioned is the growing involvement of Romania’s powerful betting industry is causing disquietin media and political circles. The report mentions here the situation of the publications owned by Ringier in Romania, Libertatea and GSP, which faced commercial interference in the editorial process.   The Ringier scandal also illustrates the influence of the betting industry, with GSP journalists showing how Ringier Sports Management Group tried to pressure the newsroom on how it reports on the gambling industry and demanded that they submit articles before publication. The report also mentions that the gambling industry has allocated more than €2.4 billion on media advertising in 2022.   Yet, the large media trusts “are being challenged by a young and vibrant sector of high-quality innovative media that refuses political money, demands the highest levels of integrity, and focuses on exposing corruption while reaching larger and larger audiences.” But that comes with a cost, as journalists suffer increasing online hostility and trolling, and the report exemplifies with the case of Emilia ?ercan, targeted by an ugly political smear campaign after revealing that several powerful politicians had plagiarised their academic theses. (Source:https://ipi.media/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/romania-report-1.pdf)

Read in full - click here
Foundation, City Hall announce protocol to advance Bucharest Green Belt project to operational phase

Centura Verde Foundation and the Bucharest City Hall announced the entry of the Bucharest–Ilfov Green Belt project into its operational phase following the signing of the implementation protocol. The agreement represents a key step toward creating a natural buffer zone around Romania’s capital to improve air quality, protect biodiversity, and support sustainable urban development. The […]

Pro-Russian politician Călin Georgescu demands dismissal of Romanian defense minister, military commanders

Far-right and pro-Russian former presidential candidate and leading figure of the “sovereignist” bloc, Călin Georgescu, demanded the dismissal of the current defense minister and the Romanian military commanders who oversaw the mobilization of reservists for exercises.  Georgescu, who was present at the District 1 Court in Bucharest on October 21, said the mobilization was a […]

New electric ride service Little Bolt launched in Bucharest

Mobility company Bolt has launched a new category in Bucharest called Little Bolt, offering passengers cheaper rides in compact electric vehicles. The company says the move supports its plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The new vehicles, which Bolt says are Jinpeng Smart Balance models, can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h […]

Over 7% of road traffic deaths in the EU took place in Romania in 2024

Roughly 1,478 people died in road accidents in Romania in 2024, and 19,940 in the entire European Union, according to the latest statistics released by the European Commission. As such, Romania accounted for 7.41% of all traffic deaths in the EU last year. Overall, the EU saw a 2% decrease in road deaths compared to […]

Romania resumes consular services in Odesa through itinerant office

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) announced the resumption of consular activities in Odesa through an itinerant format, as part of efforts to reopen the Romanian Consulate General and provide consular assistance and protection to Romanian citizens in the region. Thus, between October 16 and 28, an interim chargé d’affaires is conducting the first itinerant […]

ONV LAW welcomes British barrister, Flavia Kenyon, to the team and launches new legal services dedicated to technology companies, Digital Assets & Web3

ONV LAW launches Digital Assets & Web3 (Code/Lex), a new practice area dedicated to technology companies and investors operating in cryptoassets, blockchain, and AI. The ONV LAW team provides integrated legal support to technology companies, blockchain startups, Fintechs, AI solution providers, as well as investors seeking expansion in Eastern Europe. The team is led by […]