Albania Archives

BIRN Albania Publishes Manual on Environmental Advocacy in Albania

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania has published a manual on environmental advocacy for activists in the country.

The manual was written by Mihallaq Qirjo, a professor of ecology at Tirana University and environmentalist. It aims to empower civil society actors to raise their voices and to take on important environmental causes on behalf of communities across the country.

The manual’s contents are intended to raise awareness of the need for active participation, better governance and improvements in the management of natural resources in Albania. It is also intended to boost collaboration between civil society organisations, public authorities, local communities and the media over the long term in order to create partnerships that secure sustainable development.

The publication of the manual was financially supported by Sweden and the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Tirana as part of the project ‘Building Resilience through Environmental Journalism’.

To download a copy of the report in Albanian, click here.

BIRN Albania Publishes Handbook for Journalists Reporting on the Environment

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania has published a new handbook for journalists in the country on how to report on environment and climate change.

The manual was written by Lawrence Marzouk, a journalist, editor and trainer with almost 20 years’ experience in investigative reporting, and Mihallaq Qirjo, a professor of ecology at Tirana University and environmental activist. The publication was edited by Alken Myftiu, an expert on climate change, renewable and clean energy policies and environmental Issues.

The manual aims to provide journalists with a better understanding of climate change and looming environmental crises, as well as explaining the legal and financial situation in Albania as regards environmental issues and the country’s path towards harmonisation with EU standards.

It also provides Albanian journalists with the latest practical, cutting-edge tools to investigate and report on the subject, while suggesting useful open sources of information.

The publication of the manual was supported financially by Sweden and the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Tirana as part of the project ‘Building Resilience Through Environmental Journalism’.

To download a copy of the report in English, click here.

To download a copy of the report in Albanian, click here.

BIRN Albania Opens Call for Investigations on Human Rights Abuses

BIRN Albania launched a call for investigative stories on November 10, offering grants for three journalists to produce articles on human rights abuses in Albania.

BIRN is offering grants for three journalists to cover stories on human rights abuses, as well as mentoring by experienced editors.

The call is part of the project ‘Promoting Accountability through Investigative Journalism’, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, NED.

This project aims to build bridges between journalists, experts and civil society activists so they can strengthen the fight against corruption and impunity through investigative journalism.

Three journalists will be awarded grants to cover their expenses while conducting investigations and writing stories on topics related to human rights abuses in Albania.

The journalists will have around three months to dig deeper and research their ideas, and will also have the opportunity to work with experienced editors as mentors to guide them through the process of writing in accordance with BIRN standards.

The call only applies to journalists from Albania and closes on November 25, 2023.

Click here for more information (in Albanian) about the application procedure.

Click here to download the application form (in Albanian).

BIRN Albania Holds Roundtable on Human Rights

On November 7, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania held a roundtable on the state of human rights in the country.

The roundtable was moderated by human rights activist Xheni Karaj, who presented a review of the uphill battle human rights defenders and journalists often face in Albania to advance causes and report abuses.

Two dozen journalists, civil society activists and experts in the field of human rights attended the roundtable in Tirana as part of the project: “Promoting Accountability through Investigative Journalism,” financed by the National Endowment for Democracy, NED.

This project aims to build bridges between journalists, experts and civil society activists, so that they can strengthen the fight against corruption and impunity through investigative journalism.

The aim of the roundtable was to identify important issues or problems that civil society believes should be investigated in the respect of human rights and freedoms in Albania.

The findings of the roundtable will guide the main areas of BIRN Albania’s upcoming open call for three journalists to produce investigative articles focused on human rights.

During the roundtable, the participants discussed the following themes and topics: sexual violence and off-line bullying of children in school; digital rights violations; smear campaigns against journalists and media disinformation against human rights activists; labour rights; marginalized communities’ and migrants’ access to healthcare; reintegration of victims from conflict areas; lack of institutional capacity; migrants’ access to social services; human rights in prison and other closed institutions; access to vaccines for children’ access to information and digital services; sexual harassment, etc.

BIRN Albania Holds Trainings on Environmental Advocacy

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania on September 27 and 29 held two trainings for civil society organisations and activists in Shkodra and Kukes.

The training sessions on environmental advocacy were held as part of the project: “Building Resilience through Environmental Journalism”, which is co-financed by the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US embassy in Tirana and is implemented by BIRN in cooperation with local journalists.

The trainings in Shkodra and Kukes attracted 41 civil society representatives and activists from the northern regions of Albania.

The project aims to strengthen cooperation between NGOs, activists and local journalists in Albania to research, monitor and publish articles on environmental violations, with the aim of increasing awareness, public pressure and advocacy for the most efficient use of natural resources and sustainable development in the country

The training in the town of Kukes, bordering Kosovo, was led by environmental experts Bukurosh Onuzi, Besart Halilaj and Anxhela Vincani. It attracted 22 participants. The training in Shkodra was held by journalist Emi Kalaja and Alminda Mema, executive director of the Ahrus Centre in Shkodra and had 19 participants.

During the training sessions, the experts discussed environmental issues and cooperation between journalists and civil society to tackle them, the work of local environmental organisations to raise awareness and advocate for their causes, as well as intra-institutional cooperation on the local level on environmental issues.

EU Awards for Best Investigative Journalism in Albania Announced

On September 21 in Europe House in Tirana, the winners of the EU Awards for Investigative Awards for Investigative Journalism in Albania were announced.

Aurora Velaj, Osman Stafa, Anila Hoxha and Artan Rama were selected from many colleagues as this year’s winners for their stories published in 2022 exposing wrongdoings related to discrimination, healthcare and spendings of public funds.

The jury consisted of Jeton Mehmeti, media professional, consultant, researcher, Chairman of the Independent Media Commission and lecturer at the University of Prishtina; Ornela Liperi, editor-in-chief of Monitor magazine, and Valbona Sulçe, journalist and media researcher with a background in diversity, gender equality, media literacy, and ethical journalism, championing the cause of Albanian women in audiovisual.

The first prize went to Velaj for her documentary Po na shujn!. This story reveals the silent ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Serbia’s Presheva Valley through postal address removal, shedding light on discrimination against the country’s ethnic Albanian population.

The second prize went to Stafa for his story Mungesa e ilaçeve në QSUNT rrezikon jetën e fëmijëve, që vuajnë nga tumori, which spotlighted the challenges of supplying essential drugs to children with cancer in Albania, driving change in healthcare.

The third prize was given to the stories produced by Anila Hoxha’s “Sekret shtetëror”, which explores the human and financial costs of helicopter contracts in Albania, and Artan Rama’s “Kush e kontrollon Butrintin/Who manages Butrint?”, which exposes management and transparency issues at Albania’s significant heritage site, urging preservation and accountability.

The awards were given by the Deputy Head of the European Delegation in Albania, Jean-Baptiste Le Bras, who emphasized the pivotal role of investigative journalism in democracy, governance, and accountability.

Blerjana Bino from Thomson Media introduced the project and the importance of the EU award for supporting investigative journalism in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. Ornela Liperi, representing the jury, provided a detailed explanation of the award selection process and announced the recipients of each awarded position.

More information can be found here.

The EU Award for Investigative Journalism 2023 is part of the project “Strengthening Quality Journalism in Western Balkans and Türkiye II”. This aims to recognise and promote outstanding achievements in investigative journalism as well as improve the visibility of quality journalism in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.

The project is funded by the European Union and it is implemented by a consortium composed of Balkan Investigative Reporting Network – BIRN Hub, Central European University (CEU) – Hungary, the Association of Journalists (AJ) – Türkiye, Thomson Media (TM) – Germany, University Goce Delcev Stip (UGD) – North Macedonia, The Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) – North Macedonia, Media Association of South-East Europe (MASE) – Montenegro, and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Kosovo (BIRN Kosovo).

BIRN Albania and SCiDEV Present Studies on Disinformation, Propaganda and Fake News

Reports on Russian, Chinese and Iranian propaganda welcomed by EU ambassador in Tirana who calls for a renewed emphasis on ethical journalism

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania, together with Science and Innovation for Development Center, SCiDEV, on July 14 presented the findings of four reports on information manipulation in Albania and the launch of a new website against disinformation.

The study reports were financed by the European Union and analyze the circulation in Albanian-speaking media in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia of fake news on Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russian disinformation narratives, as well as Chinese and Iranian propaganda through state-sponsored media in Albanian language.

The presentation of the reports was greeted by the EU Ambassador in Albania, Christiane Hohmann, who emphasized the need for media owners to put quality journalism at the top of their agenda.

“We have to look into how we can actually improve the situation, fight misinformation and disinformation, while promoting ethical journalism,” said Hohmann.

The reports were presented at Europe House in Tirana by BIRN Albania Editor Besar Likmeta and SCiDEV’s Executive Director Blerjana Bino in the presence of media, journalists, civil society activists and media experts.

The reports are published in the newly launched website: DisInfo.al, which also contains a database on fake news on the war in Ukraine, as well as educational resources against disinformation, fact-checking links, video tutorials, etc.

Download the reports in English and Albanian:

For the report: “False News on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine in the Albanian-Language Media” click here.
For the report: “Russian State-Sponsored Narratives in Albania” click here.
For the report: “Media Analysis: China’s Public Diplomacy in Albania” click here.
For the report: “Media Analysis: Iran’s Propaganda in Albanian Language” click here.

BIRN Albania and SCiDEV Publish Study on Chinese Propaganda

New report explores the main narratives of China’s state-sponsored media in Albania at a time when Beijing’s economic and political presence worldwide is growing.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania, together with Science and Innovation for Development Center, SCiDEV, on July 14 published a reporter on Chinese propaganda in the Albanian language.

The report, “Media Analysis: China’s Public Diplomacy in Albania”, was authored Blerjana Bino and Besar Likmeta and funded by the European Union.

This analysis delves into the main narratives produced by Chinese state-sponsored media outlets operating within Albania, a topic which remains understudied despite its increasing relevance.

As China’s economic and political presence grows worldwide, understanding how it projects its influence and shapes local perceptions is becoming crucial.

This research is particularly relevant given the rise of China’s economic and cultural diplomacy in Albania, the geopolitical dynamics at play and the media’s pivotal role in transmitting narratives.

For an English copy of the report click here.

For an Albanian copy of the report click here.

BIRN Albania and SCiDEV Publish Study on Iranian Propaganda

New report looks at Iranian propaganda in the Albanian language, in the context of Iran’s ‘information war’ with the West.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania, together with Science and Innovation for Development Center, SCiDEV, on July 14 published a report on Iranian propaganda in the Albanian language.

The report: “Media Analysis: Iran’s Propaganda in Albanian Language”, was authored by Blerjana Bino and Besar Likmeta and funded by the European Union.

This study of Iran’s public diplomacy in Albania through its state-sponsored media outlets is a crucial and relevant task, particularly as information warfare forms a key component of modern geopolitical strategy.

In the context of growing tensions between Albania and Iran, this investigation into Iran’s messaging is a critical step towards understanding its influence and intentions.

For a copy of the report in English click here.

For a copy of the report in Albanian click here.

BIRN Albania Publishes Report on False News on Russia’s Aggression in Ukraine

New report warns that false news on the war in Ukraine proliferated in the Albanian-language media in the first eight months of this year.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania on July 14 published a study on false news and information manipulation on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The report: “False News on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine in the Albanian-Language Media”, was authored by Kristina Voko and Besar Likmeta and financed by the European Union.

This research found that, in contrast to what has been previously reported, false news on Ukraine has proliferated in the first eight-months of 2022 in Albanian-language media outlets in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia.

This false news output, which is mainly generated abroad and distributed on social media platforms, has been translated and republished by local media. These comprise digital native media websites, television, radio and newspapers as well as their social media channels, mainly for commercial reasons.

For an English copy of the report click here.

For an Albanian copy of the report click here