TIRANA, Aug. 1 – One of Albania’s most watched television stations, News24, is facing a possible fine by authorities and has sparked debate over media ethics after it showed a video of woman caught in bed with a lover by her migrant husband’s family.
The Audio-Visual Media Authority said in a statement the television station had violated the laws governing media and that the airing was “unethical” and that it “violated human dignity.”
The video was also removed by U.S.-based YouTube video distribution service following complaints over its content.
The woman involved told local media she would be suing the channel and added that her husband had left her for another woman in the United States and that her husband’s family published the video in order to take custody of her two young children.
AMA urged other broadcasters not to follow News24’s example in looking for more eyeballs. Albanian television station are increasingly focusing on social and family issues and large audiences are turned off by political debate and increasingly channels shy away from challenging political authorities.
