The Center for Independent Journalism and ActiveWatch express their solidarity with the more than 70 journalists of Gazeta Sporturilor (Sports Gazette) and Libertatea (The Liberty), who publicly reported on Tuesday that editorial pressure has been repeatedly exerted on the two editorial offices by the Ringier group management. This pressure culminated in the dismissal of the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Sporturilor, Cătălin Țepelin.
Journalists from the two publications say in an open letter published on Tuesday that Ringier managers asked to see in advance, among other things, articles about gambling firms that are advertising clients. The journalists also report that one of Ringier’s managers expressed the view that the separation of commercial and editorial policies is “a big problem”. They also report that attempts to communicate with Ringier group management have not received any response. The response was the dismissal of Cătălin Țepelin.
“At a time when both in Romania and internationally, the press is going through a deep crisis of credibility, independence from editorial interference (whether commercial, political or from employers) and loyalty to the public interest are the most valuable assets of a media institution,” writes the Independent Journalism Centre.
The regulation of the betting and gambling industry and the impact or social risks these activities pose to some vulnerable groups are particularly important issues, especially for a sports publication, the centre continues.
Moreover, the CIJ points out, Ringier’s own editorial code itself provides for a guarantee of journalists’ independence and the separation of editorial and commercial areas:
- “Our journalists are uncompromising in the face of the influence of individuals, companies and authorities. We avoid bias and expose conflicts of interest. We separate reporting from commentary. We flag commercial content.”
- “We are aware of our responsibility to the public and report in a balanced, impartial and fair way. We are committed to the rule of law and adhere to media industry standards and rules.”
In the CIJ’s view, the conduct of international media trusts in countries where press freedom is still precarious is an important tool to measure their commitment to the ethical principles they claim
“The Center for Independent Journalism and ActiveWatch are closely following developments at Gazeta Sporturilor and Libertatea. It would be regrettable if the Romanian public were to be deprived of the public interest journalism that has established the journalists of these two publications, especially in the difficult context of the war in Ukraine and the four rounds of elections to be held next year in Romania”, concludes the CIJ.
Background
The 70 journalists from Gazeta Sporturilor and Libertatea entitled their open letter on Tuesday “The editorial offices of Gazeta Sporturilor and Libertatea in Romania inform the public: after refusing the requests of some managers of the Ringier press group to show in advance articles about gambling companies that are advertising clients, Ringier today asked for the departure of the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Sporturilor, Cătălin Țepelin. We oppose it”.
According to them, they asked Ringier group management at the end of August to stop trying to mix editorial with the commercial side of the group’s activities. The management’s reaction was to ask for the departure of Cătălin Țepelin, editor-in-chief of Gazeta Sporturilor and one of the initiators of the message sent by the journalists.
Cătălin Țepelin, who worked for Gazeta Sporturilor for two decades, reacted in a Facebook post and called the management’s decision “unexpected”, but said that “the separation was caused by the fact that I opposed some decisions which, in my opinion, tried to violate the principles of an independent press”.
This incident, according to Libertatea and GSP journalists, is just the latest in a string of similar incidents that began in 2022 and have multiplied in recent months, which is why a meeting with Ringier management was requested at the end of August, when Cătălin Tolontan and Cătălin Țepelin submitted the call for an end to interference in the editorial activities of the two newsrooms.
After asking for Cătălin Țepelin’s departure, Ringier management proposed to Cătălin Tolontan the joint appointment of a new editor-in-chief, which he refused, the open letter added.
Dan Udrea, deputy editor-in-chief, also turned down the job, but the continuity of the magazine and website will be ensured until Ringier appoints a new management, the journalists conclude.
- The full letter, originally published on the Libertatea website.
