The OSCE Mission to Moldova closely follows the media situation in Moldova, including on both banks of the River Dniestr/Nistru. The Mission reports its concerns and observations regularly to the OSCE participating States and to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Broadcasting reform in Moldova

The Mission - in co-operation with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media - closely monitors broadcasting reform in Moldova. In 2006, prior to the adoption of the new Broadcasting Code, an OSCE expert prepared comments and recommendations on the bill, and the Mission continues to follow and review developments in media legislation. Mission representatives regularly follow sessions of Parliament and the Parliamentary commission on the media, the Broadcasting Regulatory Agency and the Supervisory Board of Teleradio Moldova, the national public broadcaster. The Mission's activities aim at increasing transparency of the Broadcasting Regulatory Agency and at providing assistance for the reform and reorganization of Teleradio Moldova into a genuine public service broadcaster.

Media Support

The Mission supports training of journalists, including at the Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism, which was created in 2006 with the aim of improving professionalism in the Moldovan media. Since 2007, the Mission supports journalism students from the Transdniestrian region and the Gagauz autonomy through funding scholarships.

The Mission follows the development of the media in the entire country, including Transdniestria (see below), Gagauzia and other regions that host local print or electronic media outlets. Over the years, the Mission has increased its role as co-ordinator and clearing house for international donors and Moldovan civil society in media development by holding regular media roundtables bringing together media institutions, non-governmental organizations and international donors.

The Mission and the Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media jointly hold training seminars for journalists and media managers from across Moldova, including Transdniestria and Gagauzia, to promote access to information, media self-regulation and professional and sustainable Internet media.

Media in Transdniestria

In co-operation with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Mission continues a dialogue with the local authorities on freedom of the media in the region and seeks ways to support the few independent media outlets in the region. With a view towards improving professionalism among journalists in the region and supporting people-to-people contacts between both banks of the Dniestr/Nistru River, the Mission supports the participation of Transdniestrian journalists in training events and the Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism.