The Association of Independent Press (API),with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the FHI 360’s Moldova Civil Society Strengthening Program (MCSSP), presents the results of their study, “The impact of the economic crisis on local media in the Republic of Moldova”. The study, covering the period of 2008 – 2011, is a first attempt to assess the effects of the recent economic crisis on local print outlets in the Republic of Moldova.
The study was conducted from June – August 2011, covering the majority of directors/editors-in-chief of local newspapers in Moldova, including TAU Gagauz Yeri and the Transnistrian region.
According to the study, the global economic crisis did not affect the activity of local newspapers in Moldova dramatically. Local private newspapers did lose the business of some of the companies which regularly bought advertising space, especially construction companies and banks; however, with the many elections held from 2009 – 2011, newspapers regained advertising revenue by selling space to political parties, issue coalitions, or candidates. In addition, the economic crisis did not precipitate a mass migration of readers from local newspapers to other types of mass-media (Internet, TV and Radio), as happened in many EU countries. Most Moldovan periodicals maintained their 2008 level of circulation or even registered an increase.
To mitigate the effects of the economic crisis, local newspapers both applied austerity measures and implemented new strategies for attracting financial resources. Austerity measures included: making staff redundant, reducing employee salaries, decreasing the number of pages, and cutting administrative costs (transportation, communal services etc.). Most newspapers attracted new financial resources by improving and strengthening the activity of their advertising departments. Some publications diversified the type of advertising they sold or hired new publicists; others focused on attracting small advertising.
Local public newspapers, including those in TAU Gagauz Yeri, were less affected by the economic crisis than private publications, as they are less dependent on private advertising revenue: almost 65-70 percent of publication costs for public newspapers were incurred by the state. Public and private newspapers from Transnistria were not affected by the economic crisis. The circulations and numbers of pages remained intact; journalists’ salaries were “a little bit increased”; and the newspapers kept the same number of regular advertisers.
For more information about the study, please contact:Irina Lazur, Program Coordinator Association of the Independent Press, telephone: (022) 22 09 96, or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The study also can be accessed at the following link: http://api.md/files/impact.pdf
This study is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under FHI 360’s Moldova Civil Society Strengthening Program (MCSSP).The contents are the responsibility of the Association of Independent Press (API) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government or FHI 360.
