Europe & Eurasia

Romania

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}

IREX Score: 2.29	[IREX Methodology]
{Higher is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 4.00}

IREX Description:

2010 was the year in which the effect of the economic crisis fully hit Romania. Macroeconomic stability was maintained only with money borrowed from IMF and with the austerity measures of severe budget cuts. President Basescu personally assumed responsibility in May 2010 for cuts of up to 25 percent for state employees and 14 percent of all pensions. This later measure was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, so the government was forced to increase the VAT by 5 percent.

Basescu and his government needed a minimal consensus to make these cuts acceptable to the public, but after years of jostling the media and opposition he had no chance to obtain such support. Both the mainstream media and the opposition attacked the budgetary cuts and blamed Basescu personally for the economic crises and its effects. Media coverage of public policies reached new populist lows. Basescu's personal ratings fell below 15 percent.

Although media outlets savagely attacked public spending cuts, media owners themselves savagely cut costs in 2010. Our panelists approximated a total loss in journalists' salaries of over 50 percent in 2010 compared with pre-crises 2008. Many outlets were closed, especially in print media, or transferred operations onto the Internet.

Read more on IREX’s site…

Freedom House Score: 4 (Partly Free)	[Freedom House Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100}

RSF Score: 16.00	[RSF Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120}

Reporters Without Borders Description:

Poised between old reflexes and democratic progress, Romania is struggling to provide the media with a democratic environment in line with promises made when it joined the European Union. Though badly needed, reforms relating to media rights were carried out without consultation with the main players in this sector, considerably reducing the scope for investigation and editorial freedoms. The legacy of the former communist era has not yet completely disappeared from among some circles of the ruling class that persist in viewing the press as a means of transmitting official information.

Europe & Eurasia

Romania

Country Profiles: Europe and Eurasia

All Country Profiles