Journalists protest political pressure

TIRANA, Oct 27 – The Albanian Journalists Union media organization protested what it called political pressure ahead of the general elections next year.
The media organization criticized some editors or television shows exerting pressure on them and violating their integrity, impartiality and independence, according to a statement.
They said some recent TV shows with opinionists divided as followers of one or the other political side “have contributed in bringing back the politicization of the journalists with many years of investment in their profession.”
“Such a tendency seriously threatens the media and its trust, independence and impartiality.”
The media organization appealed that politicians or other politically-affiliated persons or sources should stop using editors as loudspeakers of their political interests.
They also urged lawmakers to include some articles in the new electoral code they are preparing that would specify the impartiality of journalists during the electoral process.