Economic, political interests and poor legal implementation hinder free press in Albania, says OSCE media freedom representative

TIRANA, 7 June 2012 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, called upon the Albanian government to strengthen media freedom in the country as a priority as she concluded her three-day visit to Tirana today.

“Free media are persevering in Albania but suffer in particular from economic and political interests impeding on editorial independence. More needs to be done to safeguard media freedom,” Mijatović said.

During her visit, the Representative met Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto, members of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Means of Public Information, Justice Minister Eduard Halimi, Minister for Innovation and Information Technology Genc Pollo, as well as the Chair of the broadcast regulator NCRT, the Director General of the public service broadcaster RTSH, the Head of the Union of Albanian Journalists, the director of the Albanian Media Institute, the Executive Director of Transparency International in Albania, local journalists and civil society representatives.

The failure to fully implement media laws, economic pressure, clientelism and the partisanship of media owners, as well as poor employment conditions for journalists – most of whom work without formal contracts – a weak and financially struggling public service broadcaster and broadcast regulator and an unregulated digital environment are the biggest challenges, in particular for investigative journalism in Albania, Mijatović said.

“Without a politically and financially independent public service broadcaster and broadcast regulator it will be impossible to create a free and vibrant media environment. There is a need to reform RTSH as well as NCRT to shield both from political influence and secure their funding, especially now when Albania is heading towards digitalization,” said Mijatović.

Mijatović welcomed the recent decision to exclude prison sentences for defamation offences from Albania’s Penal Code and the government’s expressed readiness to go further and fully decriminalize defamation soon. The law on access to official information also needs to be fully implemented, she said.

Mijatović welcomed Prime Minister Berisha’s statement that strengthening media freedom is a priority of his government, but stressed that media owners, often affiliated with political parties, must also maintain a hands-off approach: “Media outlets must serve the public and society at large and not act in the interest of a particular public figure or business.”

Mijatović emphasized the importance of an open Internet and commended Albania for continuing to keep the online environment free.

During her visit, Mijatović also spoke to students of the Media Department of the University of Tirana.