Reporters without Borders, recommendations to Albania to protect journalists and the right to information

2024-11-19 11:59:00, Aktualitet CNA

Reporters without Borders, recommendations to Albania to protect journalists and

The organization Reporters Without Borders and the Albanian Media Council published today a package of recommendations to protect journalists in Albania, to ensure the right to information and an independent, pluralistic and reliable media landscape.

The initiative was taken because, as the RSF organization estimates, the level of press freedom in Albania is one of the lowest in Europe and has been deteriorating for a long time.

Albania ranks 99th among 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders in May for 2024, and last in the region compared to the countries of the Balkan area.

In the roadmap published today, it is proposed to protect journalists, that Albania strengthen laws to counter abusive SLAPP lawsuits against them, requiring that the complaint go through a self-regulatory mechanism before being reviewed by a court.

"The EU accession process offers a unique opportunity for Albania to improve the law and standards of press freedom in order to effectively support free, independent and reliable journalism in the country," said the RSF joint statement . and KSHM.

The document also proposes to review the laws for the protection of the confidentiality of media sources in the face of illegal attempts to discover and victimize them, as well as the adoption of a national action plan for the safety of journalists according to the recommendations of the Council of Europe.

As for the independence and pluralism of the media and its protection from interference and censorship, the guide proposes to adopt measures that protect the editorial independence of newsrooms, especially from the interference of media shareholders in conflicts of interest.

Stronger guarantees for editorial and financial independence were also proposed for Public Radio Television (RTSH), ensuring a stable budget and independent procedures in the election of its leaders.

"The recommendations aim to support the "Structured Dialogue for Media Freedom", a procedure that will help Albania meet the conditions to enter the EU. Our efforts, motivated by the public interest and based on trust and transparency, show that even in a country where press freedom is challenged at all levels, joint and determined action is possible," said Pavol Szalai, head of the office. of the RSF for the EU and the Balkans.

The roadmap from RSF and KMSH proposes economic facilities for the long-term sustainability of Albanian journalism, such as tax relief, interest-free loans or the removal of fines for media that are in the process of the JTI Trust Initiative. While the business community can support credible journalism by increasing advertising for ethical media.

"Concerns about the situation and trust in the Albanian media are growing, especially in the conditions of increasing authoritarianism and propaganda. There is no easy solution, but financial independence for the media is a crucial starting point. Only then can the media really serve the public interest", says Koloreto Cukali, head of the Albanian Media Council.

In last April's meeting with RSF representatives, Albanian journalists claimed that they are regularly victims of violent attacks, sometimes physical, more often verbal, as well as pressure to file lawsuits.

They also asserted that the media are under economic pressure, which adds uncertainty and self-censorship to their work.

At the meeting, he emphasized that the media market is concentrated in the hands of a small number of owners, while the cooperation of political, business and media interests is deeply rooted, which greatly affects the editorial independence and reporting of journalists./ VOA