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)
The RO e-Transport system is a key component of the digitisation effort of the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (NAFA). Launched as part of an extensive strategic plan, this system is fundamental to modernising and streamlining tax processes in Romania. By implementing the RO e-Transport system, NAFA's main objective is to reduce the VAT gap […]
Romania recently sent aid to the Gaza Strip through the maritime corridor from Cyprus and the new jetty constructed by the US in the northern part of the Palestinian enclave. The country is also set to receive and treat Palestinian children. Romania’s aid, which includes over 88,000 canned food items, is part of the effort […]
Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan received donations amounting to EUR 400,000 in the pre-electoral campaign, out of which EUR 100,000 from the Save Romania Union (USR), he explained at a press conference where he evaluated his mandate. Dan is running as an independent for a second mandate, backed by the United Right Alliance (ADU), made up of the […]
Romania’s Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) has withdrawn the operating license of FAST Brokers after the company's head was arrested. Last year, the brokerage company won a three-year bid with the Romanian Army. Additionally, FAST Brokers won, as the sole bidder, the life insurance policies for Navy soldiers, valid until October 27, 2025. To motivate its decision, […]
The airport serving Oradea, in northwest Romania, inaugurated a new terminal on Saturday, May 18. Covering an extended area of 12,500 sqm, it doubled the airport’s capacity to 800 passengers per hour. Under the same project, digitized systems were introduced to facilitate passenger and baggage processing, a smart building management system was implemented, and the […]
A ship navigating under the Tanzanian flag sank on Saturday morning, May 18, in the Black Sea, after colliding with another 26 nautical miles from the Romanian coast. Eight crew members were rescued, but three were reported missing. At the time this news was published, the searches were suspended. The representatives of the Constanţa Court […]
