MEDIA PROGRAM IN MOLDOVA

The three-year Media Program in Moldova, funded by USAID, aims to support development of a network of regional independent television stations providing citizens with a sustainable source of objective local news and information. The project will raise professional skills at the stations, improve their performance as well-managed businesses, and ensure distribution of local and regional news across Moldova. In addition, the program improves the capacity of the media in Transnistria to serve local information needs.

KEY ISSUES AND OBJECTIVES

• Developing a network of local TV stations. Local TV stations exist outside of the capital and as such have a difficult time accessing quality programming, advertising revenue, and technical expertise. Networking provides the opportunity to address these issues through economies of scale and access to advertisers. IREX supports the development of the network of local TV stations by providing consulting and mentoring to member TV stations and has developed network management,a team, a network brand and a legal entity.

• Improving professionalism in the local news and information produced by the stations. Local stations have less access to in-service training and professional development opportunities. IREX works with selected stations to enhance their professionalism. Trainings, consulting, and small grants are used to help partner stations improve their managerial and journalism skills.

• Supporting business practices that lead to sustainable outlets. Local markets are much weaker and advertising is scarce. While a network can help access more of the advertising market, stations need to develop innovative business strategies to maximize revenues and contain costs, while still delivering quality programs to their audience. Through training and consulting, IREX and the stations develop tailored approaches to meet this challenge.

• Improving access to information in Transnistria regions.  IREX works closely with independent mass media from Transnistria for improving their programming and management professionalism.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Network Development:

• Created a legal entity, AICI Television Network as the Network Operations Center (NOC);
• Built a news, production aid training facility as the HUB;

• Elaborated a business strategy for the development of the Network and improved the business sustainability of the Network;

• Audience surveys, researching the TV stations ratings and program preferences of the audience;

• Creating a common Program Schedule, with common news and general entertainment programs.

Station Development:

• Conducting trainings and mentoring for improving professional skills of the journalistic teams;

• Offering to each station business consulting and elaborating station business-plans;

• Offering production, equipment and business grants.

Description Points

Membership Benefits

1. Creation, registration and management of the network and the legal entity.

2. Developing a local business strategy and network strategy including a 5 year plan with a macroeconomic business model and an executive
   summary.
3. Conducting consumer product and audience measurement research for the regional TV station members and the AICI Television Network.
4. Conducting Advertiser study of the factors leading to advertisement purchasing decisions;  specifically to understand the methods of purchasing
   advertisements and the costs related to those purchases, attitudes regarding price and cost, and the current state of the advertising industry in Moldova,
   changes in the Moldovan market, perceptions regarding audience data, pre/post campaign studies and attitudes regarding regional advertising.

Station Development Benefits

1. Business sustainability training provides in depth business counseling free of charge.
2. Expert training focused on professional journalism skills.
3. Network Style Book already developed as a state of the art guide for excellence from award winning journalists.
4. Creation of a common program schedule of excellent originally produced and acquired programming.

Subgrants

1. Production - News
2. Equipment – cameras, studio, technical
3. Programming – original productions

Plan of Expert Trainings May-September 2010

1. On-site trainings conducted at network stations with participation of the TV production team - 12 trainings.
2. Training courses in Chisinau with participation of reporters/editors/cameramen - 3 trainings.
3. Meetings with the participation of TV managers - 4 meetings.