The regional media in Romania is almost nonexistent or neglects its basic duty to inform and give a voice to the citizen, shows a recent study by ActiveWatch, which also found the backbone of the informational ecosystem is corrupt.

“Judging by the type of content the regional televisions disseminate, Romanians live in an informational desert without realizing it. Theoretically, the local media stays at the base of an informational ecosystem, because the most important information it transmits is quoted by the national press,” reads the study.

On the other hand, the regional media informs policymakers, intermediates pressure on local politicians or represents a source for the international media, according to ActiveWatch.

As a result, with a regional media that is nonexistent or neglects its duty to inform, the informational ecosystem is corrupt.

Local TV stations are set up not only by politicians, but in some cases, by institutions such as city halls and county councils. “There are media companies that even have work spaces in such institutions,” shows the study.

“Many of those employed in newsrooms  don’t have journalistic priorities in their work to gather and process information, don’t respect ethical rules, according to the conducted interviews. They more likely play a role of registration and amplification of messages designed by others,” ActiveWatch shows in the study.

Some 56 local TV stations from 15 counties were included in this study, for which ActiveWatch conducted around 200 interviews and discussions with journalists editors, managers, producers, owners of local televisions and politicians.

The entire study can be read here (in Romanian).

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com