The dynamics of media independence in post-ceauşescu Romania

Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics

Volumn 12, Issue 4, 1996, Pages 102-123

  Hall, Richard A ^a  

^a INDIANA UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0040685154     PISSN: 13523279     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/13523279608415325     Document Type: Article

References (82)

1. See Dan Ionescu, 'Romania's Media Independence Struggles', Transition, 6 Oct. 1995, pp.52-4; Liviu Man, 'The Independent Press in Romania: Against the Grain', Uncaptive Minds, Vol.6, No.2 (Summer 1993), pp.89-96; Peter Gross, 'Restricting the Free Press in Romania', Orbis, Vol.35, No.3 (Summer 1991), pp.365-75.
2. See Dan Ionescu, 'Romania's Media Independence Struggles', Transition, 6 Oct. 1995, pp.52-4; Liviu Man, 'The Independent Press in Romania: Against the Grain', Uncaptive Minds, Vol.6, No.2 (Summer 1993), pp.89-96; Peter Gross, 'Restricting the Free Press in Romania', Orbis, Vol.35, No.3 (Summer 1991), pp.365-75.
3. See Dan Ionescu, 'Romania's Media Independence Struggles', Transition, 6 Oct. 1995, pp.52-4; Liviu Man, 'The Independent Press in Romania: Against the Grain', Uncaptive Minds, Vol.6, No.2 (Summer 1993), pp.89-96; Peter Gross, 'Restricting the Free Press in Romania', Orbis, Vol.35, No.3 (Summer 1991), pp.365-75.
4. The state's near monopoly control over television until only very recently (things are better in radio where there has been an explosion of independent local FM stations in recent years), and the Iliescu regime's heavy politicization of both state television and state radio, are not in dispute here. This situation is clearly a problem and unfortunate. The reporting by state television and radio is frequently abysmal; but this is a surprise to virtually no one. The real test of establishing free media is ultimately in that section of the media which makes claims to independence. This is where the importance of the independent press lies in Romania: if the removal of the state has still left major problems in its wake in the independent press, then the same is likely to happen in radio and television.
5. Silviu Brucan, interview by Nestor Rates, in Silviu Brucan, Piaţǎ şi Democraţie (Bucharest: Editura Stiintificǎ, 1990), p.55.
6. The Stasi had approximately 190,000 collaborators out of a population of 17 million; the Securitate 700,000 out of a population of 23 million. The number 700,000 is frequently cited: see, for example, Silviu Brucan, The Wasted Generation (Boulder, CO: Westview, 1993), p.158; or former chairman of the Liberal Party, Radu Campeanu, in 'Parlamentarii despre dosarele Securitǎţii', România Liberǎ, 15 May 1992, p.3.
7. The Stasi had approximately 190,000 collaborators out of a population of 17 million; the Securitate 700,000 out of a population of 23 million. The number 700,000 is frequently cited: see, for example, Silviu Brucan, The Wasted Generation (Boulder, CO: Westview, 1993), p.158; or former chairman of the Liberal Party, Radu Campeanu, in 'Parlamentarii despre dosarele Securitǎţii', România Liberǎ, 15 May 1992, p.3.
8. Florin Gabriel Marculescu, interview by Andreea Pora, 'Nu am avut curajul sǎ refuz colaborarea', 22, 15-21 May 1992, p.12.
9. Quoted in the Human Rights Watch/Helsinki Report, 'Romania: Restrictions on Freedom of the Press in Romania', Vol.6, No.10 (June 1994), p.5.
10. See Dennis Deletant, 'The Securitate Legacy in Romania: Who Is in Control?', Problems of Post-Communism, Vol.42, No.6 (Nov.-Dec. 1995), pp.23-8.
11. Paul Stefanescu, Istoria Serviciilor Secrete Româneşti (Bucharest: Editura Divers Press, 1994), pp.292-4.
12. For an idea of the waves of dismissals which have occurred at the SRI see Mihail Galatanu, 'Virgil Magureanu a cíştigat batalia pentru SRI', Expreres, 17-23 May 1994, pp.8-9.
13. Ibid.
14. Nicolae Ulieru, interview by Dana Balint, 'Rǎzboiul dosarelor nu e declansat de SRI', Cotidianul, 17 Jan. 1996, pp.1; 3.
15. Ioan Itu, 'Dosarul de securitate al domnului Magureanu', Tinerama, 27 March-2 April 1992, pp.8-9.
16. On the conflict between the SRI and UM 0215, see Deletant, op. cit., p.27. Magureanu himself believed that Voiculescu was behind the release of his file: see Sorin Rosca Stanescu, 'Securea lui Magureanu', România Liberǎ, 17 April 1992, pp.1, 3.
17. On the conflict between the SRI and UM 0215, see Deletant, op. cit., p.27. Magureanu himself believed that Voiculescu was behind the release of his file: see Sorin Rosca Stanescu, 'Securea lui Magureanu', România Liberǎ, 17 April 1992, pp.1, 3.
18. Virgil Magureanu sent his file to the independent daily Evenimentul Zilei on 29 December 1995.
19. L.G., 'Înaintea publicǎrii dosarului, Magureanu il consultase pe Iliescu', Cotidianul, 10 Jan. 1996, p. 1.
20. Virgil Magureanu, interview in Adevǎrul, 8 Jan. 1996, p.I.
21. Lucian Pintilie, interview in România Liberǎ, 21 Oct. 1992, p.5.
22. Ion Cristoiu, 'Iulian Vlad stîmeşte invidii', Expres Magazin, 30 Jan.-5 Feb. 1991, p.1.
23. Constantin Iftime, Cu ION CRISTOIU prin infernal contemporan (Bucharest: Editura Contraria, 1993), p.31.
24. Brucan, The Wasted Generation, p. 194; Silviu Brucan, 'Cine şi de ce nu vrea 'sa-1 supere pe Generalul Vlad', Adevarul, 29 Jan. 1991, p.2.
25. Brucan, The Wasted Generation, p. 194; Silviu Brucan, 'Cine şi de ce nu vrea 'sa-1 supere pe Generalul Vlad', Adevarul, 29 Jan. 1991, p.2.
26. See Michael Shafir, 'Best Selling Spy Novels Seek to Rehabilitate Romanian Securitate', RFE/RL Research Report, 12 Nov. 1993, pp.14-18.
27. Dan Badea, 'Secretele Revoluţiei', Expres, 7-13 June 1994, pp.8-9.
28. See, for example, Pavel Corut, 'Dacii liberi', Naţiunea, August 1990, p.6.
29. Iftime, Cu ION CRISTOIU prin infernul contemporan, p.126.
30. România Liberǎ had existed during the communist era and its staff decided to keep the paper's name after December 1989. Although initially supportive of the Iliescu regime, by February 1990 it began distancing itself and by March 1990 it was sharply critical of it.
31. IPI Report (Oct,-Nov. 1993) p.18.
32. See Dan Ionescu, 'The President, the Journalists, and the KGB', Transition, 8 Sept. 1995, pp.36-9.
33. Ibid.
34. See Sorin Rosca Stanescu, 'Securea lui Magureanu', România Liberǎ, 17 April 1992, p.1, 3; Anton Uncu, Opriti-1 pe Arturo Ui', România Liberǎ, 30 April 1992, p.1, 3.
35. See Sorin Rosca Stanescu, 'Securea lui Magureanu', România Liberǎ, 17 April 1992, p.1, 3; Anton Uncu, Opriti-1 pe Arturo Ui', România Liberǎ, 30 April 1992, p.1, 3.
36. Rosca Stanescu, 'Sint H-15', România Libera, 9 May 1992, p.5; 'Catre SRI', România Liberǎ, 9 June 1992, 1; 'Goodbye Magureanu', The Economist, 18 June 1992, cited in Tinerama, 10-17 July 1992, p.3.
37. Rosca Stanescu, 'Sint H-15', România Libera, 9 May 1992, p.5; 'Catre SRI', România Liberǎ, 9 June 1992, 1; 'Goodbye Magureanu', The Economist, 18 June 1992, cited in Tinerama, 10-17 July 1992, p.3.
38. Rosca Stanescu, 'Sint H-15', România Libera, 9 May 1992, p.5; 'Catre SRI', România Liberǎ, 9 June 1992, 1; 'Goodbye Magureanu', The Economist, 18 June 1992, cited in Tinerama, 10-17 July 1992, p.3.
39. Rosca Stanescu, 'Sint H-15', România Libera, 9 May 1992, p.5; 'Catre SRI', România Liberǎ, 9 June 1992, 1; 'Goodbye Magureanu', The Economist, 18 June 1992, cited in Tinerama, 10-17 July 1992, p.3.
40. Alina Mungiu, România dupǎ '89 (Bucharest: Editura Humanitas, 1995), p.259.
41. Ibid.
42. Sorin Rosca Stanescu, interview by Andreea Pora, "'H-15" în slujba patriei', 22, 15-21 May 1992, p. 13.
43. See the case of Jamal Kurbissa in România Libera, 23 Aug. 1995, p.16.
44. See Vlad's testimony in Mircea Bunea, 'Da sau Ba?', Adevǎrul, 16 Feb. 1991, reprinted in Mircea Bunea, Praf in Ochi (Bucharest: Editura Scripta, 1994), pp.460-61.
45. See Vlad's testimony in Mircea Bunea, 'Da sau Ba?', Adevǎrul, 16 Feb. 1991, reprinted in Mircea Bunea, Praf in Ochi (Bucharest: Editura Scripta, 1994), pp.460-61.
46. Sorin Rosca Stanescu, 'Iliescu aparat de K.G.B.?', România Liberǎ, 18 April 1991, p.8.
47. Ibid.
48. Stanescu's intentions are drawn further into question by the fact that Romania's supposed 'master spy', Securitate Colonel Filip Teodorescu (arrested and sentenced for his actions in Timişoarǎ), favourably cites this very article extensively in a book on the December events: see Filip Teodorescu, Un Rise Asumat (Bucharest: Editura Viitorul Românesc, 1992), pp.93-4.
49. Rosca Stanescu's article from a December 1994 issue of Ziua was reprinted in Cornel Dumitrescu, 'Dezvaluiri senzationale despre decembrie '89', Lumea Liberǎ, 17 Dec. 1994, p.16.
50. Silviu Brucan, The Wasted Generation, p. 183.
51. David Binder, 'Ceausescu's "Private Army": A Force of Unabated Cruelty', New York Times, 25 Dec. 1989, p.A12; Blaine Harden, 'Doors Unlocked on Romania's Secret Police', The Washington Post, 30 Dec. 1989, p.A1, A14.
52. David Binder, 'Ceausescu's "Private Army": A Force of Unabated Cruelty', New York Times, 25 Dec. 1989, p.A12; Blaine Harden, 'Doors Unlocked on Romania's Secret Police', The Washington Post, 30 Dec. 1989, p.A1, A14.
53. Brucan, The Wasted Generation, pp. 183-6; Nicolae Militaru, interview by Comeliu Antim, Ordinul 2600', România Liberǎ, 17 Dec. 1992, pp.1-2.
54. Brucan, The Wasted Generation, pp. 183-6; Nicolae Militaru, interview by Comeliu Antim, Ordinul 2600', România Liberǎ, 17 Dec. 1992, pp.1-2.
55. Victor Dinu, 'Nimicirea Gorilelor Mercenare', România Libera, 25 Dec. 1989, cited in Angela Bacescu, România 1989: Din nou in calea navalirilor barbare (Cluj-Napoca: Editura 'Zalmoxis', 1994), p.151; Mihai Floca, 'Apararea Patriei', România Liberǎ, 26 Dec. 1989, cited in Dan Badea, 'Cine au fost teroristii?' Expres, 15-21 Oct. 1991, p.10.
56. Victor Dinu, 'Nimicirea Gorilelor Mercenare', România Libera, 25 Dec. 1989, cited in Angela Bacescu, România 1989: Din nou in calea navalirilor barbare (Cluj-Napoca: Editura 'Zalmoxis', 1994), p.151; Mihai Floca, 'Apararea Patriei', România Liberǎ, 26 Dec. 1989, cited in Dan Badea, 'Cine au fost teroristii?' Expres, 15-21 Oct. 1991, p.10.
57. Victor Dinu, 'Nimicirea Gorilelor Mercenare', România Libera, 25 Dec. 1989, cited in Angela Bacescu, România 1989: Din nou in calea navalirilor barbare (Cluj-Napoca: Editura 'Zalmoxis', 1994), p.151; Mihai Floca, 'Apararea Patriei', România Liberǎ, 26 Dec. 1989, cited in Dan Badea, 'Cine au fost teroristii?' Expres, 15-21 Oct. 1991, p.10.
58. Victor Dinu, 'Nimicirea Gorilelor Mercenare', România Libera, 25 Dec. 1989, cited in Angela Bacescu, România 1989: Din nou in calea navalirilor barbare (Cluj-Napoca: Editura 'Zalmoxis', 1994), p.151; Mihai Floca, 'Apararea Patriei', România Liberǎ, 26 Dec. 1989, cited in Dan Badea, 'Cine au fost teroristii?' Expres, 15-21 Oct. 1991, p.10.
59. Ion Iliescu, Revoluţie şi Reforma (Bucharest: Editura Enciclopedica, 1994), pp.72-3.
60. Bacescu, România 1989, pp. 147-8; this book is a compendium of articles which first appeared in the pro-Ceauşescu weekly Europa.
61. Ibid., pp.151-63.
62. Mihai Sturdza, 'How Dead is Ceauşescu's Secret Police Force?', RFE/RL Report on Eastern Europe, 13 April 1990, pp.33-4.
63. Group of former Securitate officers, 'Asa va place Revolutia! Asa a gost!', Democratia, No.36 (24-30 Sept. 1990), p.4.
64. Bacescu, România 1989, p.106.
65. See 'Generalul Militaru trebuie sǎ plateascǎ', in Bacescu, România 1989, pp.111-12.
66. Ilie Stoian, Decembrie '89. Arta diversiunii (Bucharest: Editura Colaj, 1993), 37-8; this book is a collection of articles Stoian wrote for Expres between 1991 and 1993.
67. Petre Mihai Bacanu, 'Intercontinental 21/22', România Liberǎ, 17 March 1990, p.1.
68. Emilian David, 'Dreptate şi adevâr pentru ziua întii', Libertatea, 12 Jan. 1990, pp.1-2.
69. It is interesting to note that in January 1990 - before România Liberǎ had broken with the Front, and when the USLA officers killed at the defence ministry were still officially branded as 'terrorists' - Bacanu's newspaper had printed the obituaries of these fallen USLA officers under the caption 'revolutionary heroes': România Liberǎ, 9 Jan. 1990, p.4a.
70. Petre Mihai Bacanu, 'Cine a tras?', România Liberǎ, 18 Dec. 1992, pp.1-2.
71. Militaru, Ordinul 2600'.
72. Petre Mihai Bacanu, 'Responsabilitatea sangelui vǎrsǎt', România Libera, 22 Dec. 1993, p.2.
73. Major Mihai Floca, 'Crima?!,' Armata Poporului, 6 June 1990, p.3.
74. Ibid.
75. Angela Bacescu, 'O crima ce trebuie neaparat dezvaluita', Zig-Zag, 23-9 April 1990, p.10.
76. Floca, 'Crima?!'; emphasis added.
77. Ibid.
78. Mihai Floca, 'Eroi, victime sau teroristi?', Adevǎrul, 29 Aug. 1990, pp.1-2.
79. Major Mihai Floca and Captain Victor Stoica, 'Unde sînt teroristii? Pe Strada, Printre Noi', Armata Poporului, 13 June 1990, p.3. It is unclear for whom these former Securitate officers were working.
80. Floca, 'Eroi, victime sau teroristi?'.
81. It should also be stated, however, that when it came to owning up to its role in the bloody repression of the demonstrators prior to 22 December, the army press (including Major Mihai Floca) was unable to admit the truth.
82. Brucan, The Wasted Generation, pp. 194-5.