TIRANA, March 20 – “The government, political parties, businesses and criminal groups tried to influence the media in inappropriate and non-transparent ways,” said the State Department’s report on Albania.
One of the main problems mentioned in the report is the state of the media and the pressure on it in Albania, according to the report cited by VOA.
There is free media and a proliferation of media outlets, especially online, that represent a wide spectrum of views without accountability, often without attributing information.
“However, independent media are few as most media are owned by powerful businessmen with vested interests who use their media to advance their own interests, including profiteering and promoting interests they have with political parties,” said the report.
The State Department also said there have been credible reports that senior members of the media used their media to blackmail businesses, threatening them with negative coverage.
“Political pressure, corruption and lack of funding limited independent print media and journalists reportedly practiced self-censorship,” the report said, noting that journalists are vulnerable to pressure and corruption. /Argumentum.al
