By Chris Cox
Imagine if you will, in our American society, the inability to express yourself; no freedom of speech to safeguard your ideas, share your opinion, or manifest change. Consider the possibilities if freedom of the press were stamped out, and public opinion was left in the hands of the government.
The result would leave us embittered, and fragile as democratic citizens. It stands to reason then, that it might be hard to properly imagine a place of idealistic oppression. Yet, on Oct. 21, The Louisville Cardinal staff was given a first hand account.
Journalists from Moldova, a former republic of the now defunct Soviet Union, wrapped up a tour of American newspapers by visiting the Cardinal. After the fall of the “iron curtain,” Moldova gained freedom of press in 1994, a freedom that Igor Catana of the Deca Press in Moldova describes as “existing in theory only.”
Plagued by harsh economic conditions and remnants of Communist rule, the group discussed concerns of their journalistic limitations with such newspapers as The Chicago Tribune and The Courier Journal, before also sharing their fears and experience with the Cardinal staff.
“Do you get in trouble for printing certain things? Like a certain opinion?” asks Angelica Jelnova, a correspondent for the Novosti. Jelnova’s questioning is entirely understandable. Journalists in Moldova who question authority or perform investigations are often subject to persecution.
“Any journalist who does investigates risks his career and being sued,” echoes Maria Praporscic of Flux. Partisan politics has also lurked into journalism, undermining its integrity.
“Everyone who works for a paper works for a political party. They are working towards their own party,” Praporscic says. Objective truth can be a hurdle as well, citing politicians who excommunicate journalists from information.
“We don’t have a Freedom of Information Act, so freedom of information is completely foreign to us,” Catana says.
“It is difficult to convince a local government representative to talk openly and make problems public,” Jelnova agreed. Furthermore, there is rarely any recourse from defending their claims when government officials are in denial.
“Journalists here have easy access to lawyers, whereas we have a hard time finding a lawyer to defend us,” Catana says.
As reporters and correspondents for mostly independent newspapers, the Modolvans are working to progress towards a civil society. They see journalism as a prominent figure in the Moldovian societal structure.
“The most important things of the media are the ethics in investigations, and teamwork in managing a developing country,” says Alina Radu-Mazureac, vice-president of the Association of Independent TV Journalists of Moldova. Catana believes an impartial press will enlighten and empower the people.
“The press has to wake up society,” he says “and the editorial style is to veer not to the left or right.” Thus far, the Moldovans are pleased with the advancements made by their country.
“In 1985 there were only government sponsored newspapers,” Jelnova says, “but now there are many independent and private papers. Despite all, we are still happy with the progress in the last 10 years.” Although eager to learn journalistic styling, the Moldovans could not help but absorb slices of American life, as well as shatter a few myths.
“When I came here I had three stereotypes,” Praporscic says. “Americans have a bad sense of humor, the fruit here is distasteful and no one in America smokes.” How did her experience measure up to her expectations?
“I found out that the fruit here is very good, and lots of people smoke,” she says. “But I was surprised, no one goes outdoors. Everyone stays inside,” she laughs. “You guys should go out more.”
