TIRANA (Albania), April 18 (SeeNews) – Albania has fallen 7 places to 82nd spot in the latest freedom of press ranking compiled by Reporters Without Borders, the international non-governmental organisation said on Thursday.
“Attacks on the media from both the government and organised crime reached an unprecedented level in 2018,” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said.
Journalists in Albania were subjected to insults, death threats and legal proceedings designed to intimidate and deter them from investigating corruption, RSF noted.
"Politicians, led by prime minister Edi Rama, branded them as trash and as fake news manufacturers. The prime minister has proposed a law designed to reinforce state control over the electronic media and, critics say, restrict access to news and information."
Self-censorship is widespread and 80% of journalists have no confidence in their professional future, RSF pointed out.
Published by RSF annually since 2002, the World Press Freedom Index measures the level of freedom available to journalists in 180 countries using the following criteria – pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative environment, transparency, infrastructure, and abuses.