Romania: Ringier sacks newspaper editors
Swiss media group Ringier has sacked several senior journalists at the Romanian daily Libertatea. The newspaper has uncovered numerous corruption scandals in recent years and is the most widely read in the country. Ringier justified the decision pointing to a decline in revenues. Commentators voice concern about press freedom and bemoan the predominance of profit-driven interests.
The readers lose out
Journalist Elena Stancu bids farewell to Libertatea with her commentary:
“Once again it is the public that loses out, Romanian society, where abuses and corruption often go unnoticed and where the changes, our past and our identity are not discussed. ... We fear that the Libertatea journalists who have been dismissed and those who are yet to be dismissed for fighting for the truth will be left alone in their struggle, which is not only theirs. It is becoming increasingly unbearable to be a journalist in 2023. You have nothing to gain, only to lose. ... And it's hard to say what the public can do other than provide financial support and pay attention to what kind of press they consume.”
All about profit
In Spotmedia, journalist Emilian Isaila analyses the interests of the media group, which operates in many Eastern European countries:
“Ringier is a company that only thinks about profit. In terms of ethical and moral principles and support for an open society, there is no difference between Ringier and a nail factory. Except that the Swiss company uses these values to gain the trust of the public, without which it cannot operate in the mass media industry. ... You need at least a hint of credibility for people to click on your website or buy your newspaper. What happened with 'Libertatea' is a wake-up call.”