Romania: Iulia Roșu and Camelia Stan Fired After Complaints of Editorial Interference from Newsroom Owner
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is alarmed by the dismissals, demands explanation from owner Ringier.
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Date: December 6, 2023
In a shocking move, the Swiss media group Ringier has announced the dismissal of key members of the editorial team at Libertatea, one of Romania's most influential daily newspapers under its ownership. The termination of three prominent editors, including deputy editor-in-chief Iulia Roșu and print edition editor Camelia Stan, follows staff complaints about owner interference with editorial matters, raising significant concerns about the underlying motives behind these firings. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses deep concern over the abrupt dismissal of key women editors at Libertatea and condemns any actions that compromise editorial independence
On December 6, 2023, journalists Iulia Roșu, Camelia Stan and Cătălin Tolontan were fired from their editorial positions at leading Romanian newspaper Libertatea. The outlet’s owner, Ringier, also announced that 20% of the paper's journalists would lose their jobs.
The dismissals occurred amidst growing accusations by the outlet's staff regarding interference by the owner in the editorial independence of Libertatea and its sister publication, Gazeta Sporturilor. The controversy reached its peak when Ringier demanded advanced oversight of articles related to the influential gambling industry—a significant source of advertising revenue for Romanian media. Also of concern was the documented connection of a high-profile member of Ringier Sport Media Group's management team with the gambling industry, intensifying worries about potential conflicts of interest.
Fired editor-in-chief of Libertatea, Catalin Tolontan, revealed that on August 28, the editorial teams of Gazeta Sporturilor and Libertatea jointly submitted an internal appeal to Ringier headquarters in Zürich, urging an end to pressures threatening journalistic independence. There was no response to their plea. Instead, the management of both newspapers was terminated, and the print edition of Gazeta Sporturilor, which was on the brink of celebrating 100 years of uninterrupted paper printing in 2024, was shut down.
In a statement justifying the latest layoffs, Ringier pointed to a drastic 64% decrease in the sales of Libertatea's printed edition since 2018. Critics, however, argue that the roles of editors Iulia Roșu and Cătălin Tolontan were not exclusively tied to the printed edition, raising suspicions about the true motives behind their dismissals.
The betting industry market in Romania has grown by 40% in the last five years, with over 12,000 betting halls and 400,000 online gambling accounts in a country of 19 million people. The media industry in Romania, among the poorest countries in the European Union, heavily relies on the gambling sector for advertising revenue, further emphasizing the industry's sway over the media market.
Romanian media NGOs, including the Center for Independent Journalism and ActiveWatch, have condemned Ringier's decision to fire the three editors. They contend that the journalists’ were fired for their stance against betting companies’ influence over the publication. "Ringier’s abrupt and aggressive decision rids Romania’s media space of the voice of one of the most active and effective investigative journalism teams, in a critical period for democracy, in the context of the 2024 super election year in Romania," the organizations jointly stated.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom unequivocally denounces the firing of key editors Iulia Roșu and Camelia Stan at Libertatea and sounds the alarm on the unchecked influence of the betting industry over the Romanian media environment. Their abrupt dismissals, coupled with Ringier's alleged interference in editorial matters, raises serious concerns about the motivation behind the firings. We call upon Ringier to provide immediate answers regarding its alleged ties to the betting industry and reported pressure on Libertatea journalists.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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