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)
President Nicușor Dan has nominated Senate president Ilie Bolojan, a leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and former interim president, for the prime minister seat. Dan said Bolojan is “the best person to carry out the needed adjustments in the state administration.” He pointed to Bolojan’s track record with reducing spending, and said he has […]
Balkanik Festival – Home of World Music, set to take place at Uranus Garden between September 5 and September 7, lines up this year artists who "celebrate that form of joy that does not ignore reality, but faces it with beauty, energy, and solidarity," the organizers said. The artists performing in September in Bucharest will […]
The mayor of Timișoara, Dominic Fritz, announced on Friday, June 20, that two new bridges over the Bega River will be built in the city. The bridges will be financed with EU-backed funds worth over RON 130 million. The bridges in question are the Solventul Bridge, which will connect Gării Street to Dâmbovița Boulevard and […]
A Sarmatian necropolis nearly 2,000 years old was discovered after archaeological excavations were carried out at the Mehala II site in the municipality of Timișoara, in western Romania. Researchers discovered 15 inhumation graves, most arranged in rectangular pits with rounded corners, although some no longer retain their original outline, having been disturbed by the passage […]
The George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra will deliver on June 26 a concert marking Romania Day at the Osaka World Expo. Additionally, the Bucharest-based orchestra will present a series of other concerts and recitals, both within the Romanian Pavilion and outside, at Toyonara Hall in Osaka. The George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra's concerts will be conducted by […]
Sphera Franchise Group, the largest food service group in Romania, has opened its first Cioccolatitaliani store in the seaside resort of Riccione, in Italy’s Rimini tourist area. This marks the official launch of Sphera Group’s development plan for the premium Italian brand of coffee, gelato, and pastry. Under the plan, it will open four locations […]
