Media outlets
Print media
Transnistria has 14 newspapers, including several daily papers. Some print media does not have a large circulation, and only appears on a weekly or monthly basis. The oldest newspaper is the ''Dnestrovskaya Pravda'', founded in 1941 in Tiraspol. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development claims that the media climate in Transnistria is restrictive and that authorities of both banks of Dniester engage in efforts to silence their respective opposition. In 2005, according to the U.S. Department of State, authorities harassed independent newspapers when they criticized the Transnistrian government. Most Moldovan newspapers did not circulate widely in Transnistria, although they were available in Tiraspol. However, several opposition newspapers exist in Transnistria. They include Rîbnița-based ''Dobry Den'', ''Chelovek i ego prava'' (''Man and His Rights''), ''Novaya Gazeta'' from Tighina, Bender, ''Russian Proriv! (Transnistrian newspaper), Russian Proriv!'', ''Profsoyuznye Vesti'' and ''Glas Naroda''. The ''Tiraspol Times'' was an English-language website. Article from it were always featured in the official website Pridnestrovie.net. Newspapers published by the government or in favour of the government include ''Trudovoi Tiraspol'', ''Pridnestrovye'', ''Novy Dnestrovskiy Kuryer'', ''Gomin'' (in Ukrainian language, Ukrainian), ''Adevărul Nistrean'' (in Moldovan language, Moldovan, but written in the Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Cyrillic alphabet).Radio broadcasting
A state owned radio station, "Radio PMR", broadcasts both via FM and on frequency 7290 kHz shortwave, 41 meter band, as well as via the Internet. Four privately owned commercial radio stations broadcast on FM from Transnistria. They are: "Inter FM", "Dynamite FM", "EnergyRadio.FM", "Frequence3". The owners of opposition newspaper "Novaia Gazeta" plan to establish an independent radio station.Television broadcasting
There are four TV channels in Transnistria. Two of them are local (to Tiraspol and Tighina/Bender), while two of them cover all of Transnistria. Television in Transnistria was for a long time dominated by the public service company TV PMR. In 1998, Transnistria's first commercial channel, TSV (TV channel), TSV (''Television of Free Choice'') was started. Cable network operator "MultiTV" carries 24 television channels for its "premium" package and 5 channels for "social" package. Moldovan TV stations from outside Transnistria are not available through cable but can be seen via an antenna (radio), aerial. However ProTV and NIT, two private channels based in Chişinău, was introduced to on most cable networks in Transnistria from September 2009 and 1 November 2007 respectively.Telecommunications
Internet
Internet media is both stateowned and privately operated. In Russian, the websites includMedia freedom and pluralism
Transnistrian media environment is restrictive, and is dominated numerically by state-owned media (e.g. ''Pridnestrovie'' and ''Dnestrovskaya Pravda'', which are the region major newspapers), or by media controlled through public institutions, such as State Tele-radio Company and State Service media. They are subsidized, heavily politicized, and do not criticize the authorities. Sheriff (company), Sheriff company dominates the private media market, including private broadcasting, cable television, and internet service. Sheriff represents a "so-called opposition" according to IPRE. According to an International Research & Exchanges Board, IREX report they serve the interest of the company. There are some independent newspapers or magazines, with small circulation and little advertising, but they have been able to create a space of freedom of expression. They receive threats from the authorities, that sometimes even take direct control. The government hinders critical media and journalists are intimidated. Since 2014 government agencies, private organizations, and citizens are required to report instances of "extremist" material online. Journalists expressing opinions different from those of the media owners are easily dismissed. Self-censorship is practised, with local press avoiding subjects questioning the Transnistrian goal of independence or criticizing the pro-Russian foreign policy. Media of Moldova have little presence in Transnistria, being available mainly in Tiraspol. Moldovan channels are blocked. Moldovan journalists need accreditation to enter the country, and they are sometimes denied entrance or detained. In 2015 activist and journalist Serghei Ilcenko was detained for four months. The Transnistrian KGB then warned other activists who were accused of having posted "extremist messages" on the internet and, in general, warned internet users to trust only official sources, and not to contest Transnistrian independence. On September 1, 2014 Transnistrian “police” detained a television crew from Publika TV while travelling to a school in Corjova, Dubăsari, Corjova village to produce a piece on the first day of school at a Latin script school. Transnistrian police detained the crew on the grounds that they lacked a special authorization from the Transnistrian Security Service. After a few hours of interrogation, police released the crew.Transnistrian propaganda
In 2006, ''The Economist'' reported that an alleged public diplomacy, propagandistic campaign, aimed at English-speaking audience had been underway. This was done through an agency entitled the "International Council for Democratic Institutions and State Sovereignty" (ICDISS). It was claimed in The Economist that the ICDISS had links to a number of English language, English-language websites that were all pro-Transnistrian but had very few details about how and where they are produced. In particular, it highlighted the International Council for Democratic Institutions and State Sovereignty, Wikipedia article on the groupInternational Council for Democratic Institutions and State Sovereignty
The council is credited with producing a report in support of Transdniestrian independence. All but one of the alleged authors of the report has since denied involvement in the study. The case has provoked suspicions among Western officials like Louis O'Neill, the head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. Journalist Edward Lucas, who wrote the original "Economist" story about the organization, says he could find little information about the think tank. "What's really remarkable is that nobody's been able to produce any credible proof or verifiable proof that they have any existence," Lucas says.,Pridnestrovie.net
The websites quote a number of Westerners marvelling at Tiraspol's new football stadium or saying Transdniester is the French Riviera compared to Moldova proper. Quotes from the site:Tiraspol Times (tiraspoltimes.com)
Tiraspol Times was a short lived (2006–2008) English language news provider focused on Transnistria. It published an online newspaper, a free news feed service, and, according to its own site, a weekly colour magazine and a print newspaper in Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid format available at "select locations" in Transnistria, but not abroad and with no subscription available. It professed to be "committed to the truth" and whose content was largely dedicated to effusive praise of the government or endorsing independence. Online texts by the ''Tiraspol Times'' were licensed as freely distributable. Articles from it have been reprinted by UNPO and by the United Nations' ''Global Action on Aging,'' as well as various news organizations. ''Tiraspol Times'' has been criticised as being strongly biased in favour of the Transnistrian authorities and Transnistrian independence.''Radio Free Europe''See also
* Telecommunications in Transnistria * Human rights in TransnistriaReferences
External links
Media websites