TIRANA, March 20 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Wednesday that, since taking office, there has been a marked shift in ensuring that journalists do their work without any real problems.
In a post on the X platform with regard to an article by “Politico”, about the attitude towards a journalist, during yesterday’s media briefing from the SP headquarters, Rama said that the dozen journalists present could attest to the event firsthand.
Is this how information should work and truth honored? Rama writes.
“To label a completely innocent gesture, such as a friendly pat on the shoulder following a normal conversation with the press where all questions were answered without any lack of patience, first as “aggression” and then as “intimidation,” without seeking the opinions of the dozen journalists present who could attest to the event firsthand, not only fails to serve the truth but also shows disrespect to the true victims of aggression and intimidation in today’s field of journalism.”
Moreover, when a completely incredible misleading interpretation of a video is given more weight than the accounts of numerous and mostly female journalists who witnessed the pretended attack but were not questioned at all about it, sensationalism takes precedence over accuracy, Rama said.
“Adding to the spectacle, the entirely unfounded claim that this alleged act of intimidation was provoked by questions about a project involving a relative of President Trump is introduced,” Rama said.
Well here it is what I can say:
Firstly, I take pride in leading a nation where, prior to my term, journalists faced true bullets, physical harm, ritual intimidation and systemic harassment. Since assuming office, there has been a marked shift in ensuring they do their work without any real problem even when few of them engage constantly in fake news, false accusations and attacks on my family or same for other members of the cabinet or parliament.
Secondly, having a well-known background in the trench of free speakers when free speech could have cost me my own life, I have had my learning curve in becoming patient even in front of sometimes offensive unethical journalists. Never anything physical for God sake, but some bluntly undiplomatic answers have been given to them, which for good reasons didn’t really help my reputation among the free press defenders and rapporteurs. Nevertheless is since long time that any of it has occurred and my commitment to direct, transparent and respectful communication has consistently guided my interactions with journalists, as I fully recognize their crucial role in keeping the public informed.
As for this outplaced narrative of the “punch”, “push”, “hit”, “agress”, “intimidate” (and other various characterizations of a friendly pat while leaving the press point) that seems to have taken on a life of its own, it appears that no course of action is left for me to influence,” PM Edi Rama concludes his post.
/sm/
