Editing Mass media in Romania (section)

===Status and self-regulation of journalists===
Journalists have opposed initiatives for a Law on the Press, fearing that it would impose restrictions rather than granting freedoms.<ref name=EJCacc>Alexandru-Brădut Ulmanu, [http://ejc.net/media_landscapes/romania#link_439 Romania #Accountability systems] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113035409/http://ejc.net/media_landscapes/romania#link_439 |date=2016-01-13 }}, ''EJC Media Landscapes'', circa 2010</ref> A 2009 study by CIJ, ActiveWatch and IMAS (The Institute for Marketing and Polls) reports that most journalists say that professional norms are not respected, mostly due to political and business pressures.<ref>[http://media.hotnews.ro/media_server1/document-2009-10-23-6340228-0-raport-cercetare-cantitativa.pdf ''Autoreglementarea Presei in Romania''] (Press Self-regulation in Romania), cercetare cantitativa (quantitative research), CJI, ActiveWatch, IMAS, October 2009.</ref>

The Romanian Press Club has an Ethics Code and a Council of Honour to inquire journalists and media outlets found in breach of professional norms – although its decisions have often been criticised as arbitrary. The Convention of Media Organisations (COM) also adopted a deontological code; COM-member organisations have developed self-regulation guidelines for an increased accountability in the Romanian media. A "Unique Code" was issued in October 2009 by COM, MediaSind trade union and the Association of Journalists in Romania, to be adopted for the whole profession.<ref name=EJCacc/>

Among the broadcast media, regulation is managed by the National Broadcasting Council (''[[Consiliul National al Audiovizualului]]''), issuing warnings and fines for non lack of fairness and accuracy, as well as forcing media to display public acknowledgements for promoting indecent language and behaviour.<ref name=EJCacc/>

Journalists in Romania have to deal with job insecurity due to low and delayed salaries, as well as commercial and political pressures from media owners and advertisers. Collective labour contracts for the mass media sector expired in early 2014. Reporters in Romania also often face [[#Charges, attacks and threats against journalists|verbal abuse, intimidation, and occasionally even physical aggressions]].<ref name=FH/>