MediaSind General Assembly Delegates Set Strategic Priorities for 2026
The delegates attending the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Romanian Union of Journalists MediaSind, held on 2, 3 and 4 February 2026 in Bucharest, call on the Government of Romania, led by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, to comply with its European legal obligations and to urgently implement Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 – the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which entered into force on 8 August 2025.
The Regulation is directly applicable in all Member States of the European Union. Failure to adopt the legislative and administrative measures necessary for its effective implementation constitutes a breach of Romania’s obligations under the EU Treaties and may trigger infringement proceedings against Romania, potentially resulting in substantial financial penalties.
Genuine Depoliticisation and Predictable Funding of Public Media Services
The implementation of EMFA requires:
guaranteeing editorial independence;
depoliticising appointment and dismissal procedures for management positions;
ensuring adequate, sustainable and transparent funding;
eliminating any form of political or economic interference in journalistic activity.
The chronic underfunding of the Romanian Television Society (SRTV), the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation (SRR), and the National News Agency AGERPRES jeopardises the very public mission of these institutions. The lack of investment, the degradation of technical infrastructure and the deterioration of working conditions seriously affect the functioning of the public information service.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 expressly establishes the obligation of Member States to create genuine conditions for editorial independence, transparency of media ownership, fair allocation of state advertising and protection of journalists against pressure and retaliation.
Priorities Established by the MediaSind General Assembly
During the sessions organised at AGERPRES, TVR and Radio România, delegates from the four sections — MediaSind AGERPRES, MediaSind TVR, MediaSind Radio România and MediaSind Freelancers — adopted the following objectives for 2026:
- the effective implementation of the European Media Freedom Act;
- the urgent amendment of the laws governing the organisation and functioning of AGERPRES, SRR and SRTV, in order to clarify their status as autonomous public services and to introduce a predictable funding mechanism;
- the resumption and unblocking of social dialogue at governmental level;
- the adoption of a legislative support package for journalists, including freelancers;
- the enforcement of final court judgments concerning salary rights;
- legal action against employers who violate labour legislation and collective agreements.
Do Not Confuse Journalistic Activity with Industrial Production
The General Assembly draws attention to abusive administrative tendencies in certain media institutions, where journalistic work is treated through procedures specific to industrial activities.
Journalistic activity is continuous, unpredictable and dependent on current events. The imposition of excessive control mechanisms, video or electronic monitoring of working hours, or conditioning editorial activity through bureaucratic instruments constitute serious deviations.
We recall that electronic monitoring of employees is strictly regulated by data protection legislation and may entail administrative or criminal liability.
Likewise, failure to pay overtime, work performed during weekly rest periods or on public holidays constitutes flagrant violations of the Labour Code.
MediaSind Rejects the Proposed Reorganisation at TVR
MediaSind TVR delegates voted — with only one abstention — to reject the reorganisation proposals submitted by the current management of SRTV, considering that both the consultation procedure and certain elements of the proposals violate the Labour Code, the Social Dialogue Law and the Law on the Organisation and Functioning of SRTV.
Present at the General Assembly, the employees’ representatives on the SRTV Board of Administration, Sorin Torică and Cristi Godinac, thanked MediaSind members for the honour and responsibility entrusted to them. They pledged that, regardless of the attacks coming from certain individuals who have recently been used intensively against employees’ rights within TVR, they will continue to inform colleagues about all decisions taken by the Board of Administration.
Social Dialogue Resumed at Radio România
During the debates at Radio România, the leaders of the Culture and Mass-Media Federation FAIR–MediaSind presented the conclusions of their meeting with the President and CEO of SRR, Robert Cristian Schwart.
The resumption of social dialogue and the establishment of common principles regarding predictable funding of SRR, the reduction of significant salary disparities between management and subordinate staff, and the efficient reorganisation of the institution’s structure represent a first step toward institutional normality, following a prolonged period of social conflict — including strikes and protests generated by the abuses of the former administration led by Răzvan Ioan Dincă.
25 Years of MediaSind
In 2026, SRJ MediaSind marks 25 years of activity.
During the General Assembly, an anniversary film was presented, reflecting the organisation’s key milestones, including the signing of the first Collective Labour Agreement in the Romanian mass-media sector.
Strategy 2026
MediaSind will continue its efforts at national and international level, with the support of the organisations to which it is affiliated through the Federation Culture and Mass-Media FAIR–MediaSind: CNSLR–Frăția, the International Federation of Journalists, the European Federation of Journalists, UNI Global Union and other partner structures, in order to ensure the respect of the national and European rights of its affiliated members.
During the meetings, as a sign of respect and deep appreciation, moments of silence were observed in memory of colleagues who contributed to building what MediaSind has become today — the strongest national trade union organisation representing workers in the mass-media sector.
Together we are stronger!
The General Assembly of the Romanian Union of Journalists MediaSind
Bucharest, 4 February 2026
