DW Akademie in Moldova

Moldova has almost unrestricted freedom of the media and expression and access to digital technology. However, the good digital infrastructure is also conducive to spreading propaganda and misinformation both at home and abroad.

The country's media landscape is relatively large compared to its population size and economic power. The media is financed mainly by oligarchs, and reports are slanted towards the interests of the owners rather than the information needs of the public. Russia's influence on the media also continues to be a major problem.

This especially affects people in the separatist region of Transnistria and in the Russian-speaking provinces. Particularly young people lack the skills for critically assessing propaganda and misinformation often spread via popular programs or social media.

Our activities

Children and youth are the most active in terms of the digital sphere but at the same time one of the country's most vulnerable groups. Although they quickly learn how to deal with social media, they tend to consume media rather casually and as a result are susceptible to various associated risks including hate speech, cybermobbing, propaganda and group pressure.

In response, DW Akademie and partners are offering young people school workshops and media camps to learn how to critically assess media content and to produce their own reports. DW Akademie is also supporting two Romanian language and one Russian language children's editorial office in producing TV youth programs that are broadcast nationwide via the public broadcaster TRM and the Moldovan association for local stations, Canal Regional.

New teaching approaches and content

School teachers and university lecturers also need stronger media and teaching skills for preparing young generations for life in the digital age. As a result, teachers and lecturers are now receiving additional training and developing new modules and participatory teaching material so that they can pass on media skills to students ranging from elementary schools to universities.

DW Akademie also supports a working group consisting of civil stakeholders and representatives from Moldova's Education Ministry, to ensure that state educational institutions are involved in developing and implementing new curricula and educational strategies.

Funding: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Program Director: Olena Ponomarenko

Locations: Chișinău, Basarabeasca, further regions throughout Moldova

Local partners: Centrul Media pentru Tineri, Bas-TV, Independent Journalism Center Moldova, Ion Creangă Pedagogical State University

Main focus: Qualification, media self-regulation and journalism ethics, media and information literacy, journalism education/curriculum development