Throughout August, 20 members and employees of the Audiovisual Council (AC) of the Republic of Moldova are participating in a series of ten (10) training sessions on "Monitoring audiovisual content of electoral nature.

"The trainings, organised with the support of the Council of Europe project "Supporting Media Pluralism and Freedom of Expression in the Republic of Moldova," include both theoretical and practical exercises of monitoring electoral content. 
The new Methodology of monitoring audiovisual content of electoral nature was also developed by the Council of Europe earlier this year to support the Audiovisual Council ahead of the electoral period. 

"This year we have a presidential campaign and a referendum campaign. There are different particularities of monitoring and reflecting these campaigns. We have also adopted a new monitoring methodology, with the support of the Council of Europe, which will be used for the first time in this election. During the trainings we work with the legal framework, analyse particularities and the new responsibilities of the audiovisual media services providers," highlighted the Chair of the Audiovisual Council, Liliana Vițu.

Falk Lange, the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau added: „Given the importance of the AC’s work during past and the current electoral periods and the heightened attention towards this year’s referendum and presidential elections, we are proud as Council of Europe to continue building the capacity of the AC to be better prepared for the challenges ahead.”