Romania

[RO] CNA Sets Out Plans for 2002

IRIS 2002-2:1/24

Mariana Stoican

Journalist, Bucharest

The Romanian supervisory authority for electronic media, the Consiliul National al Audiovizualului (CNA), set out its main plans for 2002 in a press release issued on 17 January 2002.

The main priority for the CNA in 2002 will be to monitor provisions for the protection of minors. The reason for this is a noticeable trend that emerged last year, with TV stations frequently broadcasting films containing scenes of horror, violence or sex in prime-time slots. These films should only have been shown after 10 pm with an appropriate warning. In this context, the CNA is urging broadcasters to ensure that their programming strategy for 2002 contains measures to protect the moral and spiritual development of minors.

In its communiqué, the CNA also calls for more careful handling of ethnic references in TV debates, particularly those concerning offences supposedly perpetrated by supporters of national minorities. Offensive comments concerning people's ethnic origin should not be tolerated.

The CNA intends to publish the results of its supervision and monitoring activities at regular intervals.