EU continues to support Moldova’s mass media

Media outlets in Moldova currently rely heavily on external support for their survival. They encounter significant challenges in terms of their economic viability, security concerns, and mental well-being. However, these independent media organisations play a crucial role in Moldova’s transition to democracy. 

The Action “EU Support for Local Media Outlets in the Republic of Moldova”, led by Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation in partnership with Solidarity Fund PL and People in Need Slovakia together with their implementing partners, including People in Need Czech Republic Slovak Foreign Policy Association, CU Sens and Thomson Media gGmbH, aims to support a more favourable environment for local independent media outlets to strengthen their capacities, independence, sustainability, and professionalism, as well as their ability to produce high quality, fact-based and reliable journalistic content. The project beneficiaries include 15 local media outlets from the northern, central, and southern regions of the Republic of Moldova.

Tailored Support for Diverse Needs

Recognizing the unique circumstances of each media outlet, mentorship, and training programs within the Action address a wide range of topics. Respecting the language and location disparities, size, professional skill sets and security threats, the program provides a customized support to meet the specific needs of each participant. 

„Locally in Moldova, it is very rare to see examples of new media appearing, and even the existing ones are on the brink of disappearing. At the same time, I consider that the local and regional media are one of the most important sources of information for people outside Chișinău. Media landscape is transforming, so the help to local media enables them to adapt to the new environments to make them stronger and with a view of the future.  

That is why supporting media startups and local media is essential for a democratic country, and I am proud that I can help my colleagues doing this work”, said Alexandru Lebedev, CEO at #diez, one of the 24 mentors providing support within the Action.

Drawing Lessons from Central European Countries

It is worth noting that several other Central European countries, specifically the ones involved in the implementation of this Action, such as Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland (PL), share a common history as former Eastern Bloc nations. These countries have successfully undergone their own transitions towards democratic systems and drawing lessons from their experiences, Moldova can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of these nations to navigate its own path to a robust and empowered civil society.