This was stated by Culture Minister Cristian Jardan at the international conference “Journalists are important” in Chisinau, which discussed the prevention of attacks on journalists and media freedom in Europe. The event took place in Chisinau on 23 April and was organized jointly by the Council of Europe and the Moldovan Ministry of Culture within Moldova’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
“Discussing the safety of journalists is a discussion about the quality of democracy, the functioning of institutions and the ability of society to distinguish facts from manipulation and propaganda,” Jardan said at the opening of the forum.
In response to growing evidence of deteriorating conditions for journalists and media freedom in Europe, in 2023 the Council of Europe launched the “Journalists Matter” campaign for the safety of journalists, a pan-European initiative to promote press freedom and protect journalists from violence, threats and harassment.
The conference in Chisinau brought together government officials, international experts, lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders to discuss ways to prevent threats, pressure and attacks on journalists and media freedom, as well as to improve the safety of journalists and protect quality journalism.
Quality journalism is a pillar of democracy
The event discussed how the safety of journalists and quality journalism are mutually reinforcing pillars of democratic sustainability, as well as the role of ethical journalism in reducing vulnerability to polarization, manipulation and violence. The conference also addressed the challenges faced by investigative journalists in high-risk environments, their role in countering disinformation and election interference, and the importance of protecting journalists to ensure democratic processes.
Roberto Olla, Head of the Council of Europe’s Department for Democratic Institutions and Freedoms, said, “When journalists are subjected to intimidation, harassment or coordinated disinformation attacks, democratic debate is weakened, citizens’ trust is diminished and public institutions become more vulnerable to manipulation. More attention needs to be paid to prevention by identifying risks in advance, strengthening institutional preparedness, and providing journalists and media organizations with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves. It is also crucial to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of the safety of journalists and independent journalism for their democratic rights.
The conference focused on the preventive aspect of the 2016 Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists and other media actors, which contains concrete measures to be taken by states to prevent violations of media freedom, to effectively protect journalists and journalists, and to prosecute crimes committed against them.
