Media advocacy in anti-tobacco campaign in the Republic of Moldova
Abstract
Victoria TataruMedia advocacy in anti-tobacco campaign in the Republic of Moldova Victoria Tataru
Centrul de Informare, Instruire si Analiza Sociala „CAPTES" Chisinau, Republica Moldova
Contact: Victoria Tataru, Chisinau, captes@ong.md, victataru@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This paper makes obvious the role of mass media in supporting the effort of an organisation/ group of citizens to achieve changes of a social nature (requires, first of all, changes of public policies) and its promotion at the level of decision-makers, as well as public opinion.
The main purpose of this paper is to study the phenomenon of media advocacy, identify its social potential to project and evaluate media engagement in the national anti-tobacco campaign of 2007.
The anti-tobacco campaign carried out in 2007 had as an aim the public awareness on changing the tobacco control policies in Moldova. Media advocacy activities have been focused towards improving journalists' knowledge in the field of tobacco control and encouraging them (through media products carried out) to influence the Parliament's members to ratify documents agains smoking.
Results: the increase by two-three times and, for some media means even by ten times, of the number of anti-tobacco references (articles, radio and TV broadcastings) as compared to 2006. Media advocacy had a significant contribution to the unfolding of political and
social events in this field (approval of FCTC; approval of a new Law on tobacco and tobacco products, stipulating „restrictions and afferent provisions to the consumption of tobacco products and the harmful effects on health")
Key words: media, advocacy, anti-tobacco laws
Media advocacy in anti-tobacco campaign in the Republic of Moldova