When the media does not play its role as the "fourth estate", but serves as a tool of blackmail

2025-06-27 18:24:00, Opinione Ardi Stefa

When the media does not play its role as the "fourth estate", but

The reason for writing the following lines was a Facebook group, opened four or five days ago, which aimed to expose corruption in Vlora and which asked me to follow it. Of course, professional curiosity was great and I accepted the invitation.

But from the first day of those "unwashed" that I read, I realized that it was nothing more than a "media group", which blackmailed or spread news regarding decisions of the municipality and the mayor himself for the purpose of personal economic gain. The "principled journalist" served as the "strongman of the city and guarantor" of the one or those who sought to benefit from construction land, a building permit, etc., etc.

In any healthy democracy, the media is not simply an informative voice, it is an indispensable institution that acts as the "fourth estate", a role that does not stem from any constitutional article, but from the power it has in shaping public opinion, in holding government accountable and in guaranteeing transparency. When it functions with integrity, the media is the bridge between citizens and government; it is a watchdog on corruption and injustice. This term is not accidental: it refers to the ability of the media to supervise the other three powers: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary, by being free, independent and critical. The media, in this sense, is the guardian of the public interest.

So the media acts:

• As a check on the state and monitor the exercise of the three powers, revealing any abuse and ensuring transparency, i.e. they perform the role of "watchdog".

• They provide information on public affairs to more and more groups, thus expanding the political nation. As its size increases, so does its power, that is, its democracy strengthens.

• They convey the voice of the people, unifying all the different opinions that come from society and deserve to be heard through the common prism on which they converge. In other words, they transmit the public consensus as it emerges through social dialogue.

But what happens when it departs from this mission, and instead of a protective and enlightening role, it becomes a tool of blackmail, pressure, manipulation, and personal gain?

This is an issue with serious consequences, not only for the individuals who are unfairly targeted by such media, but also for the very foundations of the democratic functioning of a society.

The degradation of the media's mission from being a controller of power to its collaborator

Mediat që shantazhojnë nuk lindin rastësisht. Ato zakonisht krijohen në një ambient ku mungon rregullimi i tregut mediatik, ku standardet etike janë të dobëta dhe ku ndikimi i politikës ose biznesit është i thellë, ku rol fisnik i gazetarisë zëvendësohet nga interesa të ngushta ekonomike apo politike. Në këto raste, roli i medias si “kontrollor i pushtetit” humbet, dhe ajo bëhet bashkëpunëtore e tij – shpesh duke u përdorur si një instrument për të mbrojtur interesat e grupeve të caktuara dhe për të goditur kritikët e tyre. Portale të vetëshpallura, televizione me financime të errëta apo gazetarë të kapur përdorin fuqinë e fjalës për të kërcënuar, shpifur apo shtrembëruar të vërtetën në këmbim të favoreve.

Shantazhi mediatik ka forma të ndryshme. Mund të jetë një artikull kërcënues ndaj një zyrtari apo biznesmeni, i cili më pas "harrohet" nëse paguhet çmimi i duhur. Mund të jetë një hetim i sajuar për të nxitur panik e dyshim ndaj një kundërshtari politik. Apo edhe një seri shkrimesh dhe emisionesh, që shërbejnë për të kontrolluar narrativën publike në një drejtim të caktuar. E gjitha kjo shoqërohet me mungesë transparence për pronësinë e medias, me financime të dyshimta dhe me një mungesë totale të përgjegjësisë etike.

Bjerrja e besimit publik

Efekti më i rrezikshëm i këtij devijimi është rrënimi i besimit të publikut tek media në përgjithësi. Kur qytetarët fillojnë të shohin median si një aktor të korruptuar, të njëjtë me politikën që ajo duhet të kritikojë, atëherë çfarë mbetet për të ruajtur një demokraci funksionale?

Shantazhi në emër të lajmit nuk është vetëm imoral, është i rrezikshëm. Ai kthen fjalën publike në një instrument dhune simbolike. Dhe qytetari i zakonshëm, i cili nuk ka as pushtet, as mbrojtje, bëhet viktimë e një lufte të fshehtë mes interesave të mëdha.

Ndërsa shantazhi në emër të përfitimit vetjak apo të një grupi të caktuar është krim, sepse vret, denigron, manipulon, luan me jetën e personalitetin e njerëzve dhe familjeve të tyre.

Kjo krijon një klimë ku askush nuk beson më askënd: media nuk besohet, pushteti shihet si i korruptuar, drejtësia si e varur, dhe e vërteta si një mall që mund të blihet apo fshihet. Në këtë realitet, qytetari ose bëhet indiferent, ose cinik: dy forma, që ushqejnë krizën demokratike dhe që përbëjnë rrezik serioz për demokracinë, pasi pa një media të lirë dhe të ndershme, vetë liria kthehet në iluzion dhe qytetarët bëhen të pandjeshëm ndaj së vërtetës, të painteresuar për të kontrolluar pushtetin dhe të dorëzuar ndaj manipulimit.

Kur përfitimi bie mbi etikën profesionale

Part of the blame also lies with media professionals themselves. In a market overloaded with portals, anonymous websites, and television stations that often do not even respect minimal ethical standards, many journalists have become “information operators” serving regular clients. Often, “news” is produced not to inform the public, but to hit a person, to protect an interest, or to receive a reward.

This situation has also led to the perversion of the role of the journalist: from a noble profession to a paid weapon. Instead of raising important questions for the public, some profit-oriented media use the word to embarrass, slander, distort, and then "negotiate silence."

Meanwhile, journalists themselves must reevaluate the ethics of their profession. Because every time a microphone is used for blackmail, every time a headline is used for threat, society's conscience is wounded.

But what could be the solutions?

To stop this dangerous phenomenon, several necessary steps are required:

1. Full transparency in media financing and ownership: The public should know who is speaking, for whom, and for what purpose.

2. Strengthening the legal framework against defamation, but also against media blackmail: Punishing cases of blackmail through the media must be fair, balanced and effective, without violating freedom of speech.

3. Creating self-regulatory mechanisms and increasing the role of independent organizations of journalists: These organizations should promote ethics and help differentiate between responsible and abusive media.

4. Media education for the public: Citizens must learn to read the media critically, understand sources, analyze purposes, and hold themselves accountable for the information they consume.

Media, the strongest tool of freedom or manipulation?

Ultimately, the media is one of the most powerful tools a society has. It can shape realities, overthrow governments, protect the vulnerable, and expose the corrupt. But that same power, when used irresponsibly, when it aims to denigrate, manipulate public opinion, or simply blackmail; can become a weapon that destroys people's lives, undermines trust, and strengthens authoritarianism.

When the fourth estate is no longer the guardian of democracy, nor the voice of the public, but a tool of blackmail used by the strongest against the weakest, then we no longer have freedom. We only have a facade, where words are a commodity and truth a luxury.

If the fourth estate falls prey to blackmail and dark interests, then we no longer have a pillar of truth – but a means of obscuring it. And there begins the downfall of every free society./ CNA