Arber Hitaj is a journalist, TV presenter and the Head of the Albanian faction of the Association of European Journalists. In an exclusive interview with Exit, he explains how journalists can help each other and why the younger generation shouldn’t be scared of a career in the media.
We know the situation is bad in Albania for journalists and media freedom, but what can we do as a community of journalists to improve things?
The situation in the Albanian media is getting worse year by year. Unfortunately Prime Minister Edi Rama, as a former journalist for one of the biggest newspapers that made history “Koha Jonë” in the 90, did not try to improve the climate. On the contrary, his influence has led to a significant deterioration of the situation.
We are not the only ones saying this, but international reports, such as those of “Reporters Without Borders”, or the “Council of Europe”, are saying the same thing. In Albania, we are very late in discussing how we should organize to cope with political and economic pressure. But there are good models everywhere in Europe, Sweden, the UK, and even Kosovo that we can learn from.
It is not complicated, the only solution comes from self-regulation, and strong associations or unions. The main thing, I think, in addition to the formulas for organizing or strengthening associations and having solidarity with each other, is to restore trust.
As a journalist, I have worked in different TV outlets, I have noticed and still I do, that there is a great lack of trust in the main organizations that deal with journalists’ issues. Most of them have as a main objective fundraising or winning projects, but without giving much impact to journalists and ordinary reporters.
Many of the heads of the main organizations dealing with the protection of journalists, have a direct connection with politics, leading to an open conflict of interest. Journalists know this, and this has had very negative consequences. Because there is a lack of trust in the organizations to make them feel involved and protected when they have problems such as pressure or threats they don’t know who to turn to.
We need to restore trust, which will then make it easier to organize and protect from politics, or groups of interests that want to control the media. I am optimistic because I see that there are very talented journalists, with high professional principles, but there is a lack of organization.
Journalists have only one thing they can do to change reality and that is to make real journalism. Heroism or sacrifice is not required, but simply professionalism and organization in unions and associations, that are really on the side of simple reports and not with one foot in politics and the other defending media freedom.
What advice would you give to an aspiring journalist who wants to move into the profession but may be cautious due to the difficult and sometimes dangerous media climate?
Don’t be afraid, if they face the pressure of politics, if they face strong criticism from people who break the law, that’s fantastic. It means that they have done their job perfectly.
I would never like the media to receive praise from politics in particular, but only from the public. This is because the media has a duty to bring out the truth about the abuses and corruption committed by politicians.
I want to tell every young person that they should not seek admiration and appreciation from politics, no, only from the public. Despite the manipulations, deceptions and tactics of black PR, being a journalist is the most beautiful profession in the world, especially when you follow professional principles. This is because it serves the public, it serves the poor, it serves democracy.
We have problems like every pillar of a new democracy, but we are not the problem. I want to tell young journalists that they have an important role to play in society- and that is to defend the truth.
We will always be the main “enemy” of politics, that’s why they want to control us. But I believe we really can make the change.
On behalf of AEJ Albania, I want to tell all the reporters to contact us if they face problems, we are here to help you and raise our voice for any pressure that you will have.
