Some people might be angry with me for even asking that question. “Can we trust scientists?” they might mock. “Is the world flat? Do brown cows make chocolate milk?”
However, some high profile lawsuits may affect what we read in the news in Roumania. A recent report about Trump suing the media might seem like an American issue. However, media giants like CNN own Romanian newspapers and TV (Antenna 3). And a Swiss company owns another top paper. On top of that, Romanian owned papers often look to US and British sources for their news.
Foreign media sources and foreign media ownership means any changes in foreign media will likely change how things are reported in Roumania.
One of the lawsuits was against the Pulitzer Prize. At first, this seems like the most irrelevant, until you realise that seems to have upset Trump is summarised as, “Russia, Russia, Russia.”
There were accusations that Trump won the election due to Russian interference. How is this relevant to Roumania? Use your imagination. If these lawsuits succeed in the US, will they inspire similar lawsuits in Eastern Europe?
If we see a sudden change in reporting in 2025, it will cast doubt on the independence of Romanian media. So, a lot of papers will probably continue to quote the Guardian and other British sources. But the change in American news sources will surely be felt.
Hopefully, more newspapers will look to Romanian sources for their news, and do their own research. Perhaps we will have more first-hand accounts of things, and a more accurate media in 2025.
Happy New Year.