FLASH
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"Governments continue to use censorship against critical voices", US embassy message on media freedom
The United States Embassy appears to have sent another scathing message to Edi Rama. At the height of the offensive against News 24, the US State Department published a media freedom report that blackened Albania.
The US Embassy today released a portion of a statement by spokesperson Tammy Bruce, made on August 12. The message is very striking and relates to the situation in Albania. The fact that the embassy is releasing it after 2 days clearly does not go unnoticed.
" We consider freedom of expression a fundamental component of a functioning democracy. Societies are strengthened by the free expression of opinions, and government censorship is intolerable in a free society. Freedom of expression remains under threat in many parts of the world, as highlighted in the 2024 Human Rights Report. Governments continue to use censorship, arbitrary or unlawful surveillance, and restrictive laws against voices they do not like, often on political or religious grounds. And, no matter how objectionable someone's speech may be, criminalizing or forcibly silencing it only serves as a catalyst for further hatred, oppression, and polarization ," stated Tammy Bruce, a message distributed by the US embassy.
As for the DASH report, the section on Albania 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 have been credible reports that senior media representatives have used their platforms to blackmail businesses, threatening negative reporting. Political pressure, corruption and lack of funding have limited the independence of print media, while journalists have reportedly practiced self-censorship," the report states.
The report adds that “the lack of enforceable employment contracts has reduced the independence of journalists and contributed to biased reporting.”
It also states that "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."
"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," it further states.
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 reportedly used direct ties to media owners and senior editors to influence the content of reporting.”
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