Lutfi Dervishi © Gazeta Reforma
Lufti Dervishi, a founding member of the Albanian Center for Quality Journalism, emphasises the challenges that Albanian journalism faces today. The media are entangled in corruption, self-censorship, and state-sponsored disinformation. However, not everything is negative, and there is still reason for hope
Lutfi Dervishi is one of the founding members of the Albanian Center for Quality Journalism (ACQJ) , which strives to provide education to students and novice reporters in the field of investigative journalism. His current work is focused on improving media freedom and journalism standards in Albania.
What are the biggest challenges for consolidating and improving media freedom in your opinion?
The main challenge lies in understanding the new environment. When we speak of the media today, who are we thinking of: journalists, reporters or other actors? When we talk of media freedom, which media do we refer to, private media which serve private interests or the public media, which has more legitimacy? A decade ago, media outlets were ranked among the top trustable institutions. Recent polls show that the level of trust in the sector is very low. The main reason for this is the rampant corruption within the industry.
Another issue in Albania is not whether you can speak up, but whether you are actually listened to. Article 22 and 23 of the Constitution offers large protections of freedom of speech. We have the Law on Authority of Audiovisual media, which is the institution which is responsible for television products, and the Law on the Access to Information. Despite such protections, what we have witnessed during the last decade, is a deterioration in the implementation of these laws. So in principle, you have the right to ask for anything, but in practice, it's getting harder and harder to get the information.
Moreover, the government is trying to monopolise the information and influence the mediatic agenda. During the election campaigns the issues and the speeches are covered not by journalists, but by the parties themselves, which control the flow of (false) information.
How does self-censorship and the uncertain labour conditions faced by journalists impact media freedom?
Freedom means that journalists, reporters, editors take their decisions based on their professional conscience, without any other pressure - open or hidden. The policy of the newspaper or television, which can be pro-government or anti-government, can influence journalists’ behaviour, leading them to self-censor. The question of conditions, environment, labour rights - theoretically, everyone should have a contract with a job description attached, but practically, journalists, especially in the districts, are dismissed on phone calls and suddenly find themselves unemployed.
How can the accession to the European Union influence media freedom and improve transparency in a candidate country such as Albania?
It can play a huge role in terms of legislation, especially in terms of the transparency of the funding, which is very obscure now. In the absence of good public broadcasters, private competitors are drawing the standards and making content just for the sake of more views and pleasing the audience. Public broadcasters need to be strengthened following the examples of countries like the UK with the BBC. So in that respect, the EU can do a lot. In the annual report, the EU focuses on the shortcomings and highlights what should be addressed, but it can do more. Media is a crucial part of the democratic life of any society.
How can non-profit media organisations improve their visibility vis-a-vis mainstream media?
Non-profit media organisations don't have as much visibility as mainstream outlets. I like to refer to them as "islands of integrity." These organisations produce very good journalism, and it’s vital that they receive more support to continue their work. Increased cooperation among them could help improve their visibility. Their work is crucial because they often tackle issues that are taboo for larger media, which are influenced by big advertisers and other powerful interests. These organisations serve as role models for young reporters and are an essential critical voice in our society.
How does the interaction with civil society and external organisations help improve media institutions in Albania?
It's very valuable to have an external look at what's going on in the media, especially when it comes to consultancy, know-how, and deeper analysis of legislation. They are very helpful in that regard. What's critical is both content and context. The situation in Albania is more nuanced than it appears. In Albania, there are critical voices and they don’t face any critical safety issues. You have the right to protest, criticise, mock, or satirise the Prime Minister freely, without facing significant consequences. Legally, some things need to be amended. No doubt there are problems such as lack of transparency and monopolisation of information, but journalists aren’t being imprisoned, killed, or wounded. We need to see things in colour, not just black and white.
How has intimidation of media professionals or journalists evolved overtime?
When we talk about pressure and lack of freedom today, it stems from a mixture of government influence and strong companies. But there are a lot of internal problems within media organisations and corrupted journalists as well. This undermines the credibility of the entire media sector in the eyes of the public. Some journalists exercise undue power and blackmail judges or prosecutors. So yes, there are bad actors on our side as well, not just on the other side.
Would journalists be better protected if there were strong trade unions in the country?
Yes it would be beneficial, but trade unions in Albania have not been successful in any field. In my opinion a capable, brave, and good journalist doesn’t necessarily need a union because his/her work is public, and if they’re good, they’ll be valued in the market. Even in countries with long democratic traditions, like the US, you can witness significant challenges. There is no clear recipe for solving these issues. Everyone, deep inside, knows what’s right and wrong, but external circumstances and other factors complicate things.
How important is the Albanian diaspora in terms of influencing and supporting the media landscape in Albania?
The diaspora are deeply engaged with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. I don't see a significant role the diaspora can play in influencing or supporting the media landscape at this moment. They’re more embedded in social media trends than in contributing to meaningful media discourse within Albania.
How sustainable is the media landscape?
The issue in Albania is not the lack of media, but quite the opposite—there is far too much of it. We have 56 TV stations, 800 web portals, and two multiplexes, all serving a small country where there are, at most, 10 to 20 major stories to cover at any given time. Thirty years ago, there were hardly any media outlets, and now it’s oversaturated. The problem is that there is no market to sustain so many platforms, especially 15 news channels broadcasting 24 hours a day. With traditional models of financing collapsing and new models not yet in sight, media outlets are struggling to survive. Some have opted for blackmailing businesses, or becoming indebted to the government or large corporations in order to survive. This compromises their independence and further hinders their sustainability.
Does the youth in Albania still aspire to become a journalist?
The profession has lost much credibility and prospects and so fewer young people are pursuing journalism now, compared to the past. For instance, in the classes I taught a few years ago, there were about 100 students in three large groups. This year, the number has dropped to 66. However, there is still hope. Through an investigative journalism lab, we train 10 to 14 young, dedicated aspiring reporters each year, and we’ve been doing this for eight years now. These small, committed groups of students represent the future of investigative journalism in Albania, but the numbers show that the profession’s allure is fading for many.
Why do you think that the Albanian media has lost credibility?
The loss of credibility stems from various factors, but a major one is the consumption of information today. Ten or fifteen years ago, people turned to traditional media for their news. Now, their attention has shifted to social media. When I asked 100 students at an event how they get their information, none of them said they watch TV, which was shocking. People now rely on quick, pre-digested content, where in a few minutes, they receive explanations without needing to engage deeply with the material. The media has shifted towards sensationalism, often focusing on crime, scandal, and tabloid-style coverage. Instead of being part of the solution, the media is increasingly seen as part of the problem, and this has drastically reduced its trustworthiness.
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This publication is the result of activities carried out within the Media Freedom Rapid Response and ATLIB - Transnational Advocacy for Freedom of Information in the Western Balkans, a project co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The positions contained in this publication are the expression of the authors exclusively and do not necessarily represent the positions of the co-financing institutions.
