SafeJournalists and MFRR raise concern/ "KSHM, SCiDEV and Blerjana Bino are being attacked"

2024-10-08 13:11:00, Aktualitet CNA

SafeJournalists and MFRR raise concern/ "KSHM, SCiDEV and Blerjana Bino are

Illustrative photo

The SafeJournalists network and Media Freedom Rapid Response have come out in support of the Media Ethics Council in Albania (KSHM), the think tank - SCiDEV and the researcher Blerjana Bino.

SafeJournalists and MFRR declare that these two platforms and Bino became the target of defamatory campaigns by Sot.com.al and Prapaskena.com, in response to the publication of a shadow report on media freedom in Albania.

SafeJournalists and MFRR state that these incidents mark a disturbing trend of hostility towards independent media and civil society organizations.

The SafeJournalists Network and MFRR call for an immediate end to these attacks.

Full statement:

The SafeJournalists network and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) strongly condemn the slanderous campaigns against the Council of Media Ethics in Albania (KSHM) and the think tank - SCiDEV that have published a shadow report on media freedom in Albania, as well as against the petitioner Blerjana Bino .

In early October 2024, the Council of Media Ethics in Albania (KSHM) became the target of defamatory campaigns coordinated by two online platforms, Sot.com.al and Prapaskena.com. These incidents mark a disturbing trend of hostility toward independent media and civil society organizations, raising concerns among media freedom advocates.

On October 6, Prapaskena.com escalated its attacks by targeting Blerjana Bino, researcher of the SafeJournalists network and executive director of SCiDEV, together with two think tank organizations – SCiDEV and OBCT. The attack came in response to the publication of a shadow report on media freedom in Albania.

Published on July 25, the report focused on the third section of the Rule of Law Commission's 2024 Report, devoted to media freedom and pluralism, to provide an updated analysis of the Albanian media landscape, including remaining challenges and in development.

Prapaskena.com defamed Bino as the "Spider" of civil society funds and falsely accused him of producing biased reports on attacks on journalists. Bino's photograph, used to illustrate the defamatory article, also endangered Bino's safety by inciting hatred against her. These defamatory attacks undermine the credibility of independent voices and organizations working to protect media freedom and support ethical journalism in Albania.

The initial attack, launched by Sot.com.al, followed a decision by the Ethics Board of KSHM regarding a complaint filed against Sot media. In what seemed like a vindictive action, Sot.com.al described the KSHM's decision as a violation of press freedom, portraying the role of the Ethics Board as oppressive and unfair. This response not only distorts the role of KSHM in promoting ethical journalism, but also threatens the integrity of the self-regulatory framework created to uphold media standards. KSHM strongly condemned the article as defamatory, highlighting a disturbing trend of media retaliation against self-regulatory bodies instead of engaging constructively with ethical standards in journalism.

At the same time, Prapaskena.com launched its attack, shortly after KSHM issued a public statement opposing the closure of social networks of one of the online platforms in Albania. Echoing Sot.com.al's rhetoric, Prapaskena.com used similar inflammatory language to discredit KSHM's position, further escalating the campaign against independent organizations working for ethical journalism in the country.

These coordinated attacks, which aim to discredit ethical journalism and undermine the work of independent organizations and researchers in protecting media freedom and the safety of journalists in Albania, are deeply disturbing and represent a wider trend of fear and hostility towards independent civil society in Albania. Such tactics are not only an attack on the individuals and organizations involved, but also on the core principles of press freedom, transparency and accountability that are fundamental to a democratic society.

The SafeJournalists Network and MFRR call for an immediate end to these attacks and urge all stakeholders to respect the role of independent self-regulatory bodies, think tank organizations and researchers in promoting ethical standards and transparency in the media sector. We welcome and support scientific review and open dialogue on issues related to media freedom and safety of journalists, to further strengthen the common advancement of these topics.

We stand in solidarity with KSHM, SCiDEV, and Blerjana Bino and call on the Albanian authorities to ensure that independent media and civil society organizations can carry out their vital work without fear of retaliation or defamation.

Also, the SafeJournalists Network strongly defends its colleague Blerjana Bino and reaffirms its unwavering support for her critical, professional and ethical work in advancing media freedom and transparency in Albania.