Print media concerned over possible multi-shareholding

TIRANA, Dec. 14 – There have been rumors of a possible founding of a multi-shareholding company that is to take care of the distribution of the print media in the capital Tirana.
On Wednesday the Union of the Albanian Journalists sent a letter to Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha expressing their concern.
They said that though they support such a reform they still fear the transparency of such an action and a possible selective behavior.
The media market, especially that of the print, has been suffering continuously during the post-communist decades. All newspapers have low sales that can hardly keep them alive. This situation is made worse by increasingly competitive broadcast media outlets.
Print media generally has poor finances, and often complains of political pressure.
The Union asked the mayor to secure the transparency of the process and also hold a roundtable for all stakeholders to discuss the issue.