140 students from six universities in the country, including from Gagauzia region and the left bank of the Nistru River graduated from the Eco Media Academy, conducted during September – November 2024, with the support of UNDP and Sweden, in partnership with the Association of Environmental Journalists and Ecological Tourism of Moldova.10 of the graduates were awarded for their compelling articles and media products on environmental protection at a contest held at the end of the training programme.

On 29 November 2024, the results of the Eco Media Academy were presented and the winners of the competition were awarded. All graduates received diplomas of participation.

The Eco Media Academy programme included 18 basic trainings in the field of biodiversity, environmental and water protection, waste management, techniques of documentation and writing of journalistic materials, two practical field activities, two study visits to the Nistru River bank and to the nature reserve "Prutul de Jos". The students were guided by six experts in reflecting environmental issues. 

Dumitru Paniș, a student at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the State University of Moldova and one of the graduates of the Eco Media Academy, was awarded in the media products competition with an article about the nature reserve "Prutul de Jos". 

"First of all, this training programme inspired me to believe in my own powers. As a future journalist, I learned to work with sources. The article with which I won the competition was my first piece, which I worked on as an intern at Ecopresa, opportunity I got to thanks to the Eco Media Academy," noted Dumitru.

Constantin Mînăscurtă, student at the State University "Alecu Russo" in Bălți, participated in Eco Media Academy courses, wrote an article about the pollution of the Nistru River, and he was awarded a diploma in the contest.

"I acquired essential skills for a future journalist, such as documenting and writing an article, structuring information and using official sources. I learned to approach topics of public interest from a critical and well-informed perspective, which will be very useful in the future. The subject of the competition material was the pollution of the Nistru River. I chose it because of its direct impact on the environment and riparian communities. I felt that this issue needs more attention from the public and the authorities, as it is also a matter of social responsibility," says the student.

The Eco Media Academy was attended by students from the State University of Moldova, Free International University of Moldova, "Alecu Russo" State University of Bălți, "Bogdan Petriceicu-Hasdeu" State University of Cahul, State University of Comrat, "Taras Shevchenko" University of Tiraspol.

The Eco Media Academy took place within the framework of the UNDP-Sweden project "Supporting Moldovan authorities in the sustainable management of the Nistru River".