"Albania, decline in media freedom"/ Reporters Without Borders: Journalists face pressure from politics and crime

2026-04-30 08:14:00, Aktualitet CNA

"Albania, decline in media freedom"/ Reporters Without Borders:

Albania has dropped in the ranking of countries for media freedom, according to the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders. Our country is ranked 83rd out of 180 countries in total, while last year it was in 80th place.

According to the Reporters Without Borders report, in Albania, press freedom and media independence are threatened by conflicts of interest between the business and political worlds, a weak legal framework and party regulation. It further adds that journalists are victims of acts of intimidation by politicians and organized crime.

"Albania, decline in media freedom"/ Reporters Without Borders:

Media landscape

The most influential private sector media in Albania are owned by a small number of companies with political connections in highly regulated sectors, such as construction. While there are hundreds of online media outlets in the country, only a small number have a sustainable business model with transparent financing.

Political context

Journalists face political pressure, particularly during elections. Politicians limit editorial independence by politicizing media regulators and appointing those responsible for public media. Journalists critical of the authorities are often subjected to organized attacks to discredit them by both the government and the opposition, and they have difficulty obtaining state information, access to which may be further limited by a recent centralization of government communications.

Legal framework

Although Albania’s constitution and international legal commitments guarantee freedom of the press, protection of the confidentiality of sources is insufficient. As a result of controversial court decisions, media outlets were prohibited from covering sensitive issues of public interest. The government’s decision to block TikTok in 2025 violated freedom of expression and freedom of the press, according to the Constitutional Court. Although incomplete, the decriminalization of defamation is expected to be beneficial for media freedom.

Economic context

Ownership of most of the Albanian media landscape is concentrated in the hands of just four or five companies. State funding represents a major source of revenue for the media, but its non-transparent and discriminatory distribution raises suspicions of abuse of influence.

Sociocultural context

Journalists who investigate crime and corruption are particularly targeted by threats. Female journalists, who make up the majority of the profession, face online harassment and in some cases gender discrimination within news organizations, although there has been progress in this area. Self-censorship is widespread, but the media has nevertheless created a platform for ethical self-regulation, the first of its kind in Albania.

Safety

Journalists covering demonstrations and police operations are sometimes victims of police violence. But organized crime represents one of the greatest threats to the safety of journalists. Although police have recently taken steps to investigate attacks against journalists, impunity for these crimes, combined with political efforts to discredit journalists, has created a climate that is likely to encourage further attacks. /CNA