Plenary session at Media Forum, Dec. 2023

Fulbright Update
Media Forum spotlights Russian disinformation tactics, goals
The big event of the media calendar year, the Moldova Media Forum, inspired and informed journalists and journalism educators from throughout the region last month.

For me, the highlight was an enlightening presentation on Russian disinformation tactics and motives from Marian Voicu, a TV journalist and fact checker (Verdica.ro) from Romania.

I also gave a presentation on peace journalism. More on that in a moment.

Citing several studies and numerous examples, Voicu talked about Russia’s disinformation goals in eastern Europe. These include weakening Ukraine’s ability to sustain the war; convincing Romania to leave EU and NATO; portraying Ukraine and NATO as American puppets; and spreading the narrative that the West is trying to conquer Russia using Ukraine as a tool.

Marian Voicu, on Russian (and American) disinfo

Interesting as well were studies cited by Voicu that show that Russia aims to sew Euro-skepticism in eastern Europe by portraying the west as pro-homosexual (and thus, against “traditional values”); by showing that multiculturalism leads to societal decay; and by portraying democracies as inherently weak and in need of strong leaders like Putin, who is portrayed as a ”real man,” according to Voicu, who gave the audience a great deal to think, and worry, about.

Other sessions included one about the media market in Moldova, where panelists from media houses and government regulators agreed on the need for more sustainable funding, and more transparency when it comes to funding sources. Another expertly moderated panel (by the Independent Journalism Center’s Anastasia Nani) considered the problem of restoring trust in media. Several speakers on this panel and others underscored the need for more investigative journalism here in Moldova as a way to build credibility and thus trust. The need for quality journalism that eschews “cutting and pasting” from other sources and embraces strict ethics was also mentioned as a key to building trust.

At the forum, the international media NGO Freedom House also released its 2023 report on freedom of information in Moldova. The index this year shows improvement over the past two years thanks to a new media law that brings access to information regulations up to international standards in Moldova. But the report notes that there’s still a long way to go here in terms of transparent information, including government websites, and access to information upon request.

Releasing the Freedom House report

My presentation, Peace Journalism: Principles and Applications, was well attended. About half were Russian speakers, meaning that I had to navigate three languages even though I speak only two (English and Romanian). At any rate, the audience was energetic and didn’t hesitate to ask questions—qualities I always love. The most animated discussion was about peace journalism and war, and how the principles I laid out might apply in practice.

The forum opened with speeches by Moldovan President Maia Sandu and US Ambassador Kent Logsdon about the importance of a vibrant, free press in Moldova.

Media Forum was sponsored by the Independent Journalism Center, Association of Independent Press in Moldova, and the Association of Electronic Press. I appreciate the invitation to participate in the event from the sponsors of my session, the UN Peacebuilding Fund and the offices in Moldova of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, the UN Development Program, and UN Women. I hope to continue collaborating with my UN colleagues in 2024.

See you next year!
I'm taking a little break now for the holidays. Peace Journalism Insights will return in January with new blogs about my misadventures in Moldova and elsewhere. May you have a joyous holiday season.

Fulbright Update:
Centrul Media gathers Media Campers for reunion in Chisinau

I continue to be tremendously impressed by Moldova’s young people.

Alex Mocanu, addressing media camp reunion

I’ve had a chance to meet some great youngsters diligently working on community improvement projects through Interact (Rotary for high school students), as well as at least a hundred of high school age students engaged in media projects through the Centrul Media pentru Tineri (CMT-youth media center).

Some of the most dedicated CMT students gathered on a recent Saturday in Chisinau for a reunion of those who had attended Media Camp last summer. These 24 youngsters were from throughout Moldova, and represented the best of their communities.

I had a chance to address the energized and energizing group about peace media, and disinformation. It seemed like there was nothing the students didn’t know about disinformation, including its definition, how and why it is spread, and how to combat it. I was impressed. I gave them an exercise where they had to circle unverified information or disinformation, and underline phrases that damage peace. The students passed this test with flying colors, identifying each offending word and phrase, and offering precise analysis of why this constituted disinformation or impeded peace. The exercise is below—give it a try yourself.

I wrapped up my CMT activities this semester a few days later with a peace media presentation to students in Cimislia.

I can’t wait to work with CMT students, and my wonderful CMT colleagues, again in 2024.

Exercise:
This script is for a podcast segment that spreads disinformation and exacerbates conflict. Read this script. Circle anything that is possible disinformation (and things that need to be fact checked), and underline anything that contributes to conflict. You may circle and underline the same content if necessary.

Narration
Moldova is abandoning its Russian speaking population, admits a Moldovan government spokesman.

Media Campers gathered in Chisinau

Spokesman Petru Roibu, in a statement, implied that by joining the EU, Russian speakers will be denied opportunities to work in government jobs. He said at least a working knowledge of Moldovan will be necessary for future government work.

Academic studies show that Moldovan speakers already outnumber Russian speakers in government jobs by a 4 to 1 ratio.

“This problem is going to get much worse in the EU,” stated Alexandra Mutu in her office in Comrat.

Also, local Russian speaking leaders are worried that under the EU, central government funds will stop flowing to Gagauzia and other Russian speaking regions. “The government already spends more on Chisinau than Comrat,” Alexandra Mutu noted.

It is no wonder all Russian speakers oppose the move to the EU, given the oppression that will follow Moldova’s joining this U.S.-led group.

Fulbright Update:
Conference connects Moldovan, Romanian academics
It’s always interesting getting together with colleagues to hear about their research. It’s interesting, and challenging, to do this when the academic presentation are all in Romanian.

Such was the case at the recent conference at the State University of Moldova titled, “Integration through research and innovation.” (The title is snappier in Romanian). Participants were from Iasi and Bucharest, Romania; the State University of Moldova; and the US (me).

In the journalism/communications section, 13 presenters gave interesting information on a wide range of topics, including advertising agencies in Moldova, reality TV, women’s roles in mass media in Romania, and communication’s relationship to regional politics.

I was especially riveted by a discussion by Madalina Mororu from the University of Bucharest (Romania) about social media influencers, a phenomenon that’s always puzzled me. She discussed the roles of female social media influencers as marketing/brand boosters, as well as their utilization of a ‘slice of life’ storytelling format.

I also liked the interesting framework/coding sheet used by researchers looking at social media. This framework included examining the type of conflict covered in the message, whether the information in the message was verified before dissemination, and whether it was rational or emotional. I especially appreciate that last one, which I consider to be the top litmus test for fake news: did it make you angry?

My presentation was short, introducing peace journalism, then discussing how it’s principles might apply to coverage of the Israel-Gaza and Ukraine-Russia wars. Even though I was the last presenter after a long day, my peers had many good questions for me, including whether audiences used to sensationalism will embrace peace journalism. The answer: yes, they will. Indeed, according to research by Prof. Jake Lynch, audiences actually prefer peace journalism approaches.

Two of my colleagues were so interested in peace journalism that they asked me to appear this fall via zoom in their classes, and next spring in person to speak and interact with their students. Bucharest, here I come.

The event was topped off with a relaxed, interesting lunch with my colleagues.