In Albania, journalists face increasing pressure from a complex triangle involving media, politics, and business interests, which undermines free press and public accountability. Journalists struggle with precarious working conditions and lack of legal protections, leading to self-censorship. Women journalists, in particular, deal with sexual harassment, underreporting of wages, and limited social security benefits. Legal threats, especially defamation lawsuits, are common, often filed by politicians or business figures. The country’s judiciary, still recovering from a reform process, struggles with delays and a backlog of cases. Despite efforts to align with EU anti-SLAPP directive and the Council of Europe’s recommendation, Albania’s legal framework still needs substantial changes, including the decriminalization of defamation and better protection for journalists. Advocates call for a more inclusive, transparent process to strengthen media freedom and support journalists facing legal challenges. Read more here.
Source: Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa