Freedom of the Press 2008 - Romania

Status: Partly Free
Legal Environment: 13 (of 30)
Political Environment: 16 (of 40)
Economic Environment: 15 (of 30)
Total Score: 44 (of 100)
(Lower scores = freer)

The constitution protects freedom of the press, and the government has become increasingly respectful of these rights. A law passed in 2006 decriminalized defamation and similar offenses, meaning journalists would no longer face jail time if convicted. However, the Constitutional Court overturned the measure in early 2007, effectively reinstating defamation and libel in the penal code. Freedom of information legislation now applies to state-owned enterprises as well as government institutions, but implementation remains problematic. The president, the government, and Parliament still appoint the National Council of Broadcasting (CNA) and the boards of the public television and radio operators, leaving them vulnerable to political influence.

The 2004 election of President Traian Basescu brought substantial improvements in the political environment for the press, as he has proven to be less controlling and manipulative of the media than his predecessors. Self-censorship for political reasons also appears to have decreased. However, the government can be sensitive to media criticism, and journalists risk arrest or harassment when working on issues associated with national security. In a more widespread problem, reporters, cameramen, and photographers frequently face minor assaults in the course of their work. Basescu, who has a history of verbally abusing journalists, seized the mobile telephone of a female reporter who attempted to film and interview him in a supermarket in May 2007, on the day of a referendum concerning his removal from office. The phone then recorded him making sexist and racist remarks about the reporter in a conversation with his wife. Ongoing political rifts between the president, the prime minister, and their respective allies in Parliament may be contributing to the trend toward less government control over the media. In October, public broadcaster Romanian Television (TVR) aired a video recording of Agriculture Minister Decebai Traian Remes allegedly accepting a bribe, leading to his resignation the next day. The justice minister later suggested that the video could have been leaked by the presidential administration.

Public broadcasters compete with several large private channels and a multitude of smaller stations. The number of media outlets and news sources has increased in recent years, driven partly by politicians and wealthy businessmen seeking to establish their own press vehicles. At the same time, a small number of major owners have stepped up concentration, acquiring television, radio, and print outlets. The proliferation of media is not supported by the market, and many outlets are not profitable, encouraging self-censorship to please owners and advertisers. The political influence of state advertising is less of a problem than in previous years, and private media do not receive state subsidies. Access to the internet is increasing, with few reports of government interference. More than 30 percent of the population used the new medium in 2007, and Romania is considered a regional leader in high-speed broadband connections.