Moldova media guide

Television is the most popular medium, although online media are increasingly influential. Politicians and business figures control the main broadcasting outlets.

The media have changed profoundly since the July 2021 parliamentary election, which brought to power a pro-European government.

The government has made it easier for journalists to access to official information, contributing to Moldova's rise in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) media freedom ranking.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, parliament has effectively banned rebroadcasts of Russian TV news and political shows, and has set out punishments for supposed fake news. Moldovan media are blocked in the breakaway Transnistria region, and vice versa.

TV remains the most popular and trusted medium. The influence of online media, including social networks, is also strong. Political battles between the pro-Russia and pro-West camps are played out in the media.

Most private FM radio networks rebroadcast output from Russian and Romanian stations.

The press divides along party political lines. The overall reach of the press is low and in decline. There is only one daily newspaper, the Moldovan version of a Russian tabloid.

There were three million internet users by July 2022, comprising 76% of the population (Worldinternetstats.com). The top social networks are Facebook, Russia's Odnoklassniki and Instagram.