RSF and the Albanian Media Council publish a policy blueprint to ensure the right to information
The policy recommendations — developed by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Albanian Media Council, and other representatives from Albania’s journalism community — focus on strengthening journalist safety, protecting media independence, and supporting journalism in the long term in this European Union (EU) candidate country.
On 19 November, RSF and its local partner, the Albanian Media Council, unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to safeguard press freedom and the right to information in Albania comes in 99th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, the lowest-ranking country in the EU-Balkans zone.
“The solutions designed with our local partners are the result of a thorough consultation with the independent Albanian media community which started six months ago. The recommendations are meant to feed into the ‘Structured Dialogue on Media Freedom’, a procedure that will help Albania meet the conditions for entering the EU. Our efforts, motivated by public interest and based on trust and transparency, show that even in a country where press freedom is challenged on all levels, joint, resolute action is possible.
“Concerns about the state of and trust in Albanian media are growing, especially amid rising authoritarianism and propaganda. There’s no simple solution, but financial independence for the media is a crucial starting point. Only then can media truly serve the public interest — not the interests of corporations, institutions, wealthy individuals, or even criminals. This issue is not just 'their problem'; it’s everyone’s problem.
The recommendations are organised around three objectives:
- Strengthening journalist safety: A robust legal framework must be put in place to counter abusive lawsuits (SLAPPs), enhance protections for journalistic sources, and establish a National Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists (NAPSJ). These measures would ensure protection and legal remedies for journalists facing threats, abuse, or undue surveillance.
- Safeguarding media independence and pluralism: The blueprint proposes legal obligations for media outlets that uphold editorial independence and transparency surrounding their ownership. Specific measures include stronger protections for Albania's public service media (RTSH) and requiring media companies to disclose ownership details to mitigate conflicts of interest.
- Supporting sustainability and public trust in the media: RSF recommends economic incentives for media outlets that adhere to trusted journalism standards, such as the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI). Additional measures include promoting ethical advertising practices and encouraging digital subscription models to strengthen media outlets’ independence from political and corporate pressure.
RSF and its partner look forward to seeing these recommendations integrated into Albania's EU accession process through the newly initiated “Structured Dialogue on Media Freedom” led by Dean Mark Marku.
