Independent journalism and freedom of expression in Albania is under constant threat, while the media are often captured by narrow political and economic interests.
This conclusion is highlighted by a report recently published by two independent centers that deal with the study of the media, which have summarized with concern the increase in lawsuits and attacks against journalists.
Report published by the Center for Science and Innovation for Development (SCiDEV) and the Observatory of the Balkans and Caucasus Transeurope (OBCT) highlights the disturbing fact of increasing lawsuits against journalists.
Thus, according to the report, during the past year, until July 2024, 43 lawsuits were reported against journalists or media workers, where 38 of them were registered in the Court of Tirana.
At the same time, during this period, there were 28 cases in the Appeal and two more in the Supreme Court.
This atmosphere has negatively affected the quality of investigative journalism, as many media outlets are under pressure to cover or not cover certain stories.
“A large number of lawsuits against journalists have been used as a tool to silence them. Courts are often influenced by politics and business, making legal protection for journalists extremely difficult", is quoted in the report.
Albania does not have an electronic registry for cases against journalists, although the current system of the Court of Tirana allows such a categorization, as explained by the High Judicial Council.
In their report, SCiDEV and OBCT consider self-censorship as one of the most disturbing issues of media freedom in the country.
"Journalists face forced self-censorship, as they are often afraid of the consequences of reporting critical of the government or big business", the report says.
According to the report, 94% of the main media in Albania are controlled by a small number of owners with strong political and economic connections.
This concentration of ownership has negatively affected editorial independence, creating an environment where news coverage is influenced by the commercial or political interests of the owners.
The report states that political pressure on the media has increased significantly in recent years. Journalists and newsrooms often face verbal attacks, threats and outright harassment by officials.
The report cites that more than 70% of journalists surveyed admit to self-censoring to avoid jeopardizing their professional positions or to protect themselves from legal and political repercussions.
A concrete case included in the report is that of investigative journalist Elvis Hila, who has faced physical attacks and direct threats from local politicians after publishing an article that revealed corrupt schemes in local government units.
Physical and verbal attacks on journalists are also on the rise.
In 2023, the Safe Journalists Network documented 24 cases of attacks against journalists and media professionals, 9 of which were direct attacks on some journalists or groups of media professionals. During the year 2024, in the January-July period, 19 cases were registered.
The report underlines that there is an obvious discrepancy in the number reported by the institutions with that of the police reporting 5 cases of attacks in 2023 and the prosecution reporting 7 cases.
"This discrepancy underlines the need for systematic and accurate recording and publication of data on attacks on journalists and media workers by both the police and the prosecution", the report says.
Another major concern is the obstacles for journalists who want to practice investigative journalism. The report notes that access to information remains difficult, and journalists face heavy bureaucracy when trying to obtain public information from state institutions.
In addition, journalists who report on corruption and abuses of power often face various penalties, including numerous lawsuits.
The report reveals that only 15% of requests for information made by journalists are received within the legal deadline. Moreover, much of the information provided is partial or manipulated, making it difficult for journalists to conduct a thorough and accurate analysis of sensitive public issues.
In a new development, online media and social networks are playing an increasingly important role in informing the public.
However, the report expresses concern about the misinformation and lack of transparency of many online media. The lack of effective regulation of these media has led to an increase in fake news and manipulation of public opinion.
More than 50% of online sites do not have clear data on owners and operate anonymously, contributing to the spread of fake news and manipulation of public opinion.
"The growth of online media has led to a proliferation of misinformation, while the lack of regulation has caused many platforms to operate without transparency and ethical standards", the report continues.
A growing concern that has been highlighted by the report are cyber attacks on the media.
"In 2024, cyber attacks highlighted major challenges for independent media (case of Citizens), emphasizing the need for law enforcement agencies to be equipped with sufficient resources to address the growing number of these incidents targeting journalists as well as citizens in general", says the report.
The report highlights that political figures mostly order attacks against critical, investigative media or independent journalists, citing CASE of Ola Xama.
The actual number of incidents likely exceeds the number of documented cases, highlighting the importance of empowering journalists regarding their rights and protection.
The report notes that female journalists in Albania continue to report cases of sexual harassment, online violence and smear campaigns as the most common forms of gender-based pressure they face.
"These pressures are often not reported", says the report and adds that many female journalists feel that their complaints will not be taken seriously or that the journalists will face retaliation if they report.
"Furthermore, there are growing concerns about gender-based disinformation and online violence against women journalists", the report continues.
The SciDev report suggests that to improve the media situation in Albania, measures should be taken to guarantee editorial independence and to protect journalists from political and economic pressure.
An increase in transparency in media ownership and easier access to public information is also recommended.
Citizens has produced a podcast "The Unheard" dedicated to journalists and media freedom.
This podcast served as a window for journalists to share their stories of threats or attacks following investigative reporting. Media researchers also participated in this podcast, with whom we analyzed the reasons that lead to such attacks.
He completed master's studies in Investigative Journalism at the Department of Journalism at the University of Tirana. She has been working as a journalist for five years, where she previously covered issues of politics and parliamentary activity, in print and online media. She is currently a journalist at Citizens.al, where she covers various social issues related to the transparency of institutions. At Citizens.al, she leads the podcast "The Unheard" and is engaged as a manager of projects related to the support of investigative journalism.
