Journalist Self-Regulation Practices in the New Democracies - Unesco
Journalist Self-Regulation Practices in the New Democracies - Unesco
Journalist Self-Regulation Practices in the New Democracies - Unesco
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Ludmila Andronic:<br />
“Only Tak<strong>in</strong>g a Proactive Stand through<br />
<strong>Self</strong>-Organization and <strong>Self</strong>-<strong>Regulation</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Media Can Guarantee Their Freedom”<br />
Ludmila Andronic,<br />
President of <strong>the</strong> Press Council<br />
of Moldova<br />
— How important is <strong>the</strong> work of media self-regulation bodies <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ex-<br />
Soviet countries, where press freedom is a relatively new concept<br />
— <strong>Self</strong>-regulation reflects <strong>the</strong> level of maturity of a market, <strong>in</strong> this case, of<br />
<strong>the</strong> media market. The presence of self-regulation proves <strong>the</strong> profession’s<br />
professional attitude to <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ished product and to <strong>the</strong> media consumer.<br />
First of all, this means that clear work rules are <strong>in</strong> place whose violation<br />
is collegially sanctioned by <strong>the</strong> entire profession. Secondly, it denotes<br />
<strong>the</strong> existence of a vision on <strong>the</strong> good journalistic practices and on<br />
reprehensible practices. And thirdly, <strong>the</strong> existence of study programs <strong>in</strong><br />
view of promot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> good practices. I mean here both <strong>the</strong> university<br />
courses and <strong>the</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>uous tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gs for journalists.<br />
Hence, <strong>the</strong> profession’s capacity to self-organize and operate based on commonly<br />
agreed upon pr<strong>in</strong>ciples creates <strong>the</strong> precondition for a free and <strong>in</strong>dependent operation,<br />
when <strong>the</strong> state does not assume <strong>the</strong> role of mediator and regulator, which would be<br />
disastrous for <strong>the</strong> media and would deprive it of fairness and freedom of expression.<br />
The states that had to go through totalitarian regimes, such as <strong>the</strong> countries from<br />
<strong>the</strong> ex-Soviet space, know how far <strong>the</strong> excessive zeal of <strong>the</strong> regulations imposed by<br />
<strong>the</strong> state can go. Thus, tak<strong>in</strong>g a proactive stand, through self-organization and selfregulation,<br />
<strong>the</strong> media guarantees its freedom, balanc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> power of collegiality to<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>vasive or abusive power of <strong>the</strong> state.<br />
— To what extent do <strong>the</strong> actions of <strong>the</strong> self-regulation body encourage <strong>the</strong> media consumers<br />
to demand that <strong>the</strong> media outlets respect <strong>the</strong> ethical standards<br />
— Demand<strong>in</strong>g correct and <strong>in</strong>dependent media is one of <strong>the</strong> fundamental democratic<br />
and civic actions. One of <strong>the</strong> goals we have established is exactly to conv<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> public<br />
20 <strong>Journalist</strong> <strong>Self</strong>-<strong>Regulation</strong> <strong>Practices</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Democracies</strong>