ASOCIATIA PATRONALA A EDITORILOR LOCALI DIN ROMÂNIA
Romanian Association for Local Publishers
The Romanian Association for Local Publishers (APEL) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, created with the aim of supporting local press publishers in Romania. One of the strongest press NGOs and the most powerful voice in the local press field, APEL has been active for more than three years. Its programmes serve the local press community, by promoting transparency of state advertising, better rules in press distribution and by improving local press advocacy capacities.
APEL is the main representative for 24 local publishers. This means 51 newspapers with a total circulation of almost 300,000 copies daily. APEL receives all of its financial resources from its member newspaper publishers. APEL’s president is Mr. Marius Stoianovici, the owner of the local daily newspaper Monitorul Expres.
In the past year, APEL was involved in the Young Journalists programme with the aim of strengthening local young journalists’ capacities by being part of a transnational cooperation system. APEL works also on improving editorial skills of local newspapers; in this field the Romanian Centre for Independent Journalism and Bucharest University are the main trainers. APEL offers its members free access to press information from all over the world, a news exchange system and a programme of editorial syndicalisation of costs. APEL is the main local press partner for Freedom House and the Romanian Press Club.