FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The government, political parties, businesses, and criminal groups have sought to influence the media in inappropriate and non-transparent ways...
The US Department of State has published a report on the state of human rights in the world, while emphasizing that freedom of expression and media freedom are limited in the countries of the Western Balkans.
Referring to Albania, DASH emphasizes that the Government, political parties, and criminal groups have used direct connections with media owners and senior editors to influence the content of reporting.
In this way, the US gives a 'slap' to Prime Minister Edi Rama, but also to politics as a whole, over the influence they have on the media, limiting their freedoms.
The criticisms and findings in the latest State Department report are among the harshest regarding Albania, regarding freedom of the media and freedom of expression.
Referring to the DASH report, it highlights the blackmail and threats of journalists, or their public defamation, following reports on alleged government corruption.
DASH emphasizes that independent media organizations and professional journalists have alleged that the Government, political parties, businesses, and criminal groups have sought to influence the media in inappropriate and non-transparent ways.
" There were credible reports that senior media representatives used their platforms to blackmail businesses, threatening negative reporting. Political pressure, corruption, and lack of funding limited the independence of the print media, while journalists reportedly practiced self-censorship," the US State Department report states.
Also, DASH highlights that "the lack of enforceable employment contracts has reduced the independence of journalists and contributed to the bias of reporting."
"Political and business interests have exerted pressure on journalists. Some journalists have reported receiving threatening messages or becoming the subject of public smear campaigns after reporting on alleged government corruption or abuses ," the State Department report notes.
It is further noted that "in March, the Albanian Journalists' Union publicly denounced the prime minister for using intimidating language towards a journalist who was investigating tourism investments in the country."
The report notes that "journalists often practiced self-censorship to avoid violence, harassment, or to protect their jobs. The government, political parties, and criminal groups used direct ties to media owners and senior editors to influence the content of reporting ," the report states.
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