During project implementation, AJMTEM regularly informed the society on legislative initiatives currently under consultation for approval, particularly through the website ecopresa.md.
Meanwhile, with journalists attending trainings and round tables, related problems were discussed and feedback materials developed, thus exerting pressure on the decision-makers. In partnership with other NGOs, AJMTEM also signed a Memorandum of collaboration through which these environmental NGOs will participate in decision-making related to the environment and help to improve the quality of legislative documents drafted as well as their practical implementation.
Increased media coverage of this topic in the local and national press could also already be observed, which has contributed to increased pressure on policymakers with regard to environmental protection. One example are new restrictions imposed on fishing for 2016, which were signed by the Environment Minister Valeriu Munteanu on November 25, 2015, following information published on illegal fishing by Lilia Curchi, the Executive Director of AJMTEM.
During the implementation of project, AJMTEM actively promoted the activities and results through the media and social networks. Such organizations who are interested in replicating the project can easily find related information, particularly through the website www.ecopresa.md, where all activities of project implementation are covered. Additionally, AJMTEM produced a video spot describing the main results and project activities. Meanwhile, AJMTEM is open to collaboration and sharing their experience with organizations interested in replicating the project activities.
By actively involving local and national media journalists, project activities and its results have been disseminated to a large number of people. AJMTEM participated in several meetings and events promoting project results, success stories, as well as challenges and opportunities encountered. At the same time, AJMTEM pursued active communication with beneficiaries through the organization's Facebook page. In addition, they regularly distributed step-by-step experiences via email and their website.
Replication of project activities
The actual project will offer a good example of cooperation for good environmental governance for the interested parties: journalists, public authorities, experts, NGOs as well as general public as indirect beneficiary of project activities. Efficient cooperation between environmental journalists and the environmental authorities and accumulation of knowledge during project implementation period, will serve to enhance cooperation at the next stage and will lead to development of other projects that will be successfully designed and implemented by all of the interested parties.
Project sustainability
The project implemented by AJMTEM put great emphasis on durability. The following activities particularly supported sustainability of this project:
? The association trained over 50 journalists in covering environmental topics, building capacities to achieve good quality materials on environmental governance and environmental issues.
? The interinstitutional cooperation protocol signed by the Minister of Environment and AJMTEM will also continue to facilitate the free access to environmental information, and will hence be a useful tool in promoting Open Access.
? Publishing and distributing 300 free Practical Guides for environmental journalism will allow journalists to improve their writing skills in environmental topics.
? By piloting Environmental Journalism Course at the State University and its inclusion in the list of optional courses will allow students at the State University learn to reflect the theme of the environment and create future generations of journalists.
? AJMTEM will continue its work to strengthen the network of environmental journalists and promote correct and thorough information on good environmental governance in Moldova. AJMTEM will continue the award competition for journalists for the best materials on environmental issues.
Gender Focus
The project offers equal opportunities for all regardless of gender, social status, etc. who are willing to obtain full fledged quality information contained in project materials. The AJMTEM is addressing most seriously its obligation to ensure equal treat of participation in this project for women and men and to benefit on its activities so as to ensure enhancement of the level of awareness amongst women and men in regard to environment protection.
Policy Impact
The project proposed by the AJMTEM is matching policies, strategies and plans of activity pursued by the Ministry of Environment on the segment Access to environmental information and ecological education.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The project will contribute to information, raising awareness and implication of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova into the environmental issues for better environmental governance; and, facilitating access to the environmental information, ensuring better understanding of the environmental problems and good environmental governance processes and encouraging population to participate and getting engaged into the environmental decision making process.
Capacity - Building Component
The project will contribute to strengthening capacities of the environmental journalists in reflecting good environmental governance and policies, enhancing the level of reflecting sound governance and environmental policies by Moldovan mass media
Notable Community Participation
The society implication plan of the project includes: implication of the journalists from the Republic of Moldova as well as the environmental national and local authorities, the Ministry of Environment is the decision maker, and also students of journalistic faculties will be encouraged to apply for training programmes so as to cultivate interest and develop capacities of dealing with the environmental issues with accent placed on good environmental governance.
Project Results
The National Environmental Strategy 2014-2023, just like the environmental priorities of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement for the years 2014-2016, provides for the period immediately following a number of about 20 European legislative acts to be transposed into national law. Participation and involvement of journalists in communicating about bonds and achievements of the country in this area is essential for a good public information and ensuring public access to environmental information.
A good environmental governance can only be achieved when participating whole society: authorities, citizens and civil society. To achieve this goal, the Journalists Association of Environmental and Ecological Tourism of the Republic of Moldova implemented the project "National environmental agenda: through communication, for better environmental governance" project that aims to inform, raise awareness and grow awareness of Moldovan citizens on environmental issues, for better environmental governance. Thus, thru project activities, AJMTEM increased awareness of citizens, conducted bridges of cooperation between civil society, journalists and relevant authorities, contributed to capacity building of journalists and journalism students to address environmental themes.
There was organized a series of 11 meetings between journalists, authorities and experts have been reinforced cross-regional groups of journalists from the center, south and north through the organization of three thematic meetings and as a result many materials appeared in the press. AJMTEM awarded 8 best environmental materials in the Contest "Prize for environmental journalism", second edition; He has trained 53 journalists, one curriculum "Environmental Journalism" developed and piloted at 30 students on State University. At the same time, realized Official Alert app that sends notifications when are updated websites of state institutions: ministries, agencies, institutes etc. Also, 9 thematic pages in the journal Nature, with a total circulation of 64 000 copies total audience of 265 000-384 000 (1 copy newspaper is read on average 4-6 people), 29 articles in the local press, 9 radio reports, 18 TV which has local and national impact to access to environmental information, awareness. As a result, a large public was sensitized and people have realized the importance of the environment.
It noted that through consistent and professional coverage by journalists of environmental issues, raising public awareness and authorities, the Environment Ministry has initiated draft laws that deal "hot spots" such as rent forest, industrial fishing, sand and gravel extraction etc. AJMTEM signed a Memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Environment for the next three years, which provides institutional cooperation in the following areas: improved transparency in environmental matters; improve public access to environmental information and awareness raising and public interest in decisions concerning the environment.
No. of factsheets - 1
http://ecopresa.md/index.php/ro/biblioteca/prezentari
No. of videos, photo reportages - 18
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJeKZ2Q3PNs&feature=youtu.be
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAY9c2X2DPQ
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArhGJnCXRAI
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de-WXZYgccQ
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNgS9xnINk
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMet6T941gc&feature=youtu.be
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBducfOUYWo
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo0fHpIT304
9. http://www.jurnaltv.md/ro/news/2015/12/15/informatii-oficiale-accesibile-la-orice-ora-
10. https://www.privesc.eu/Arhiva/64859/Lansarea-aplicatiei-Official-Alert
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCNxgQ5U2Jw
12. http://trm.md/ro/natura-in-obiectiv/natura-in-obiectiv-emisiune-din-2-octombrie-2015/
13. http://www.noi.md/md/news_id/69602
14. http://www.agrotvmoldova.md/premii-pentru-jurnalismul-de-mediu
15. http://www.agrotvmoldova.md/gala-premiilor-pentru-jurnalistii-de-mediu
16. http://agora.md/stiri/12997/video--cu-schimbari-bruste-de-temperatura-si-fara-ierni-clima-din-moldova-s-ar-putea-schimba
17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T9-tJU_lN8&feature=youtu.be
18. http://trm.md/ro/natura-in-obiectiv/natura-in-obiectiv-emisiune-din-11-octombrie-2015/
No. of guides that describe specific practices - 1
1 http://ecopresa.md/index.php/ro/biblioteca/carti-publicatii/item/2263-ghid-practic-jurnalismul-de-mediu
No. of awards during the project implementation -
Award I at the first hackathon for civic journalists from Moldova ?The Fifth Power"?, the activity with the OFFICIAL ALERT http://hackathon.media-azi.md/
The diploma for the project "The (un)protected Areas at the workshop for media innovation ? drone journalism" , http://inovatii.media-azi.md/castigatori/
Award of the journalist of the year, addressing environmental theme category - Ms. Lilia Curchi - http://ecopresa.md/index.php/ro/campanii-media/rm-ue-ecologia-prioritate-nationala/item/2173-lilia-curchi-jurnalista-anului-pentru-abordarea-tematicii-ecologice
Premiul III Cea mai bun? investiga?ie jurnalistic? ? Lilia Curchi
http://api.md/news/view/ro-api-a-premiat-castigatorii-concursurilor-profesionale-pentru-anul-2015-1120
The Encouragement Award Independent Press Association - Ms. Cristina Straton - http://api.md/news/view/ro-api-a-premiat-castigatorii-concursurilor-profesionale-pentru-anul-2015-1120
