Romania Media Sustainability Index (MSI)
April 7, 2013
About the MSI
IREX designed the MSI to measure the strength and viability of any country’s media sector. The MSI considers all the factors that contribute to a media system—the quality of journalism, effectiveness of management, the legal environment supporting freedom of the press, and more—to arrive at scores on a scale ranging between 0 and 4. These scores represent the strength of the media sector components and can be analyzed over time to chart progress (or regression) within a country. Additionally, countries or regions may be compared to one another. IREX currently conducts the MSI in 80 countries, and IREX currently conducts the MSI in 80 countries, and produced the first Europe & Eurasia MSI in 2001.
MSI Overview | Africa | Asia | Europe & Eurasia | Middle East & North Africa
Download the Complete Romania MSI Chapter (PDF): 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2006/7 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
MSI Romania - 2013 Introduction
Overall Country Score: 2.15
Media outlets in Romania were hit in 2012 be the twin effects of the prolonged drop of advertising revenues and political turmoil which increased pressure on the media, and begged them to take a stand for the rights of journalists.
A second attempt to impeach President Traian Basescu triggered a constitutional crisis, with vital institutions such as the Constitutional Court and the Ombudsman being fiercely attacked by the majority in parliament. An intervention from the EU was needed to restore the basic functionality of democratic institutions. The situation took its toll on media outlets, which openly played one political camp off the other, with impartiality being the main victim.
Hit by the financial crisis and left with huge debts, layoffs and severe wage cuts, media institutions in Romania have had to deal with unprecedented political and institutional pressures in addition to the downturn in the economy.
Romania’s media suffers from the effects of an investment bubble that peaked in 2009 and has declined sharply since. The panelists estimated that the media market experienced an 80% decline in advertising revenues between 2008 and 2012. Print media has been devastated. Two of the biggest media companies in Romania were in bankruptcy proceedings after their creditors demanded payment of their large debts. Adevarul Holding, once a leader in print media in all segments, closed in 2012 under the weight of 100 million euros in debt. The television market is overcrowded, and new stations continue to be created, but largely because politicians and business persons are looking for political influence and assistance with their “brands.”
With these trends in mind, MSI scores dropped for all five objectives this year compared with last year, with the change most pronounced in Objectives 3 and 4. Public media independence remains a major constraint. Falling pay levels appear to have dragged ethical standards down along with them. Economic weakness in general led to Romania’s poor showing on business management, with media audience dispersing to free online and niche outlets, leaving the mainstream players to wither away.
Still, there are bright spots. Access to foreign news has never been more widespread. Libel is a civil issue, protecting journalists from most frivolous claims. Market entry is generally permissive, and crimes against journalists are somewhat rare.
As it stands today, Romania has more pluralism in the media but less sustainability, less professionalism and less objectivity. A new super majority in parliament (over 75% for the Socialist-Liberal coalition) was formed after the 2012 elections, and has raised new doubts over the near future of independence in the media industry.
