media-Tabaku-survey – Albanian Telegraphic Agency.

Tabaku says that media freedom cannot be measured through political rhetoric or propaganda-driven statistics

Sonila Mehmeti — Tue, 26 May 2026 15:19:06 +0000

TIRANA, May 26 /ATA/ In response to recent comments by Prime Minister Edi Rama on media freedom in Albania, Jorida Tabaku, Democratic Party MP and Chair of the Committee on Human Rights and Public Information, underlined that widespread public debate should not be mistaken for genuine media freedom.

Tabaku emphasized that the core issue does not lie in the existence of debate across television networks or social media platforms, but in the lack of public trust in an independent media capable of scrutinizing those in power, exposing corruption, and holding public decision-making processes to account.

Tabaku argued that Albania’s media landscape is undermined by political and economic control, which has led to pressure, dependency, and self-censorship among journalists. She stated that intimidation, restricted institutional access, and economic pressure prevent the existence of genuine media freedom.

She emphasized that media freedom is not measured by the number of opposition statements shown on screen, but by journalists’ ability to freely investigate those in power without fear of threats or retaliation.

The Democratic Party Member of Parliament further emphasized that European standards of media freedom are measured through the independence of institutions, transparency, and public trust.

She also accused the government of substituting substantive issues within the media sector with propaganda-driven statistics and political rhetoric.

Tabaku’s reaction comes in response to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s publication of a media coverage survey in Albania, according to which, opposition voices account for 68.2% of media representation, compared to 31.8% for the government.

Rama stated that the survey was conducted by an Albanian AI-based startup and was based on the monitoring of 106,962 articles from 47 media outlets over a 120-day period.

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