This edition of the Media Landscape Brief provides an overview of the current multifaceted developments in June and July 2024. The Brief is prepared in cooperation with the Safe Journalists Network and local stakeholders.

Special Parliamentary Committee to Counter Foreign Interference in Democratic Processes

June and July 2024 saw the establishment and initial activities of a Special Parliamentary Committee aimed at combating disinformation and foreign interference. On June 6, 2024, the Albanian Parliament, with only the governing majority (Socialist Party) votes, approved the establishment of the Special Committee, tasked with coordinating and supervising institutional actions against these threats to the country’s democratic processes.

The committee’s inaugural meeting on June 26, 2024, notably lacked opposition participation, raising concerns about its inclusivity. Subsequently, the committee issued several public calls for engagement, demonstrating an intent to involve a wide range of stakeholders. These included invitations for expressions of interest from civil society organizations, research institutes, and academic institutions, both domestic and international. The committee also extended invitations for cooperation and participation in public debate roundtables to various media sectors, including audiovisual, print, online, and electronic media. Furthermore, it sought expertise from international bodies such as the USA, EU, NATO, and the Council of Europe, as well as other interested countries and experts.

The public broadcaster’s annual report presentation to the Parliamentary Committee for Education and Public Information Media on June 24, 2024, was met with significant criticism from opposition MPs. They alleged non-implementation of previous parliamentary recommendations and raised concerns about personnel management and financial transparency at RTSH (Albanian Radio and Television). RTSH Director General Alfred Peza refuted these allegations, characterizing them as “fake news”. The Safe Journalists Network has documented reports from journalists claiming dismissal without due process and has issued letters of concern. In response to a freedom of information request by SCiDEV, the Inspectorate disclosed that it has received six complaints of unlawful dismissal from RTSH staff since June 2023 that have resulted in formal warnings issued to RTSH for violations of labor and social insurance legislation. This situation underscores the need for increased parliamentary oversight and transparency within Albania’s public broadcasting sector.