Good news – for once – and it comes from Romania, because there something is being done about nonsense on radio and television. The Romanian National Audiovisual Council (CNA) has imposed a new rule for all radio and television programs that “advocate behaviour inspired by astrology, horoscopes, or numerology.” These programs must now be preceded by the warning: “The information in this program has no scientific basis.”
Since the fall of the communist regime – when such prediction practices were banned – astrology has flourished in Romania on broadcasters, especially on commercial television. Everyone knows Neti Sandu, an astrologer who has been giving a daily forecast on the largest commercial television station for over twenty years. This broadcast is followed by millions of Romanians.
The rules are also being tightened for other matters. Radio and television stations have been required for some time to broadcast various announcements between programs. The CNA has recently significantly expanded the number of such recommendations.
From now on, broadcasters will also be required to broadcast messages about vaccination: “Vaccination prevents the development of serious diseases. Vaccination is essential for your child’s health.” But also: “Dietary supplements are not curative and cannot replace treatments prescribed by a doctor.”