Romania's media landscape: A reflection of power – When journalism becomes a tool
Europe at a breaking point – Reporters Without Borders' latest ranking, which places Romania in a sobering 56th place out of 180 countries, is more than just a number – it's a warning sign. Marius Dragomir, founder of the Media Journalism Research Center and an expert on the subject, speaks of a "decline" in media freedom in his home country, particularly with regard to editorial independence.
Between diversity and instrumentalization
What at first glance appears to be a vibrant, pluralistic media landscape with a wealth of publications, television and radio stations, reveals itself upon closer inspection as a highly "instrumentalized" market. Here, as Dragomir analyzes, journalism does not primarily serve profit or the public interest, but above all the political and economic interests of its owners or their associates. Romania thus serves as an example of one of the most instrumentalized media markets in Europe.
Publicly funded, but not independent
A crucial factor in this precarious situation is funding: Since 2017, broadcasting fees for the public broadcaster TVR have been abolished – with far-reaching consequences. Its dependence on advertising revenue and state subsidies has intensified. This raises the fundamental question of whether the public still desires public broadcasting in its role as an independent institution – or whether the lack of quality, as even Deutsche Welle Romania has pointed out, is not a symptom of political interference.
A breeding ground for disinformation
The consequences of this development are serious. A large part of the population is susceptible to targeted disinformation – spread through pro-government channels or platforms like Telegram, where Russian narratives are increasingly gaining ground. Trust in journalistic content is deeply divided: A small, well-informed segment of society stands in contrast to a broad mass that often has only limited access to credible information.
Europe is coming too late
Even European safeguards are largely ineffective in Romania. While the new European law on media freedom is considered progressive, it often comes too late in countries with already damaged structures. It remains questionable whether the EU can develop more specific legal frameworks in the future to prevent further erosion of media freedom. Romania serves as a prime example of how difficult it is to restore shattered trust in the fourth estate.