Media of Albania

The media of Albania refers to mass media outlets based in Albania. Television, magazines, and newspapers are all operated by both state-owned and for-profit corporations which depend on advertising, subscription, and other sales-related revenues. The Constitution of Albania guarantees freedom of speech. Albanian media are quite diverse, although politicised, and often influenced by business and political interests.

The Constitution of Albania provides for freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. However, there are reports that the government and businesses influence and pressure the media. The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, and the government generally respects these prohibitions in practice. There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms without appropriate legal authority.

The Constitution of Albania prohibits censorship; yet, the law may require authorisation for radio and TV broadcasting. Hate speech is forbidden. The Constitution also grants citizens the right to access to information: every citizen has the right, in accordance with the law, to acquire information on the activities of state bodies and persons exercising public functions.

The print press in Albania is mostly self-regulated. The Law on the Press only states that "The press is free. Freedom of the press is protected by law". Printed publications do not require authorisation, nor are they registered in number at any time.

Broadcast media has been regulated repeatedly: in 1998 (Law on Public and Private Radio and Television), 2007 (Law on Digital Television) and 2013 (Law on the Audio-Visual Media). The latter, although meant to implement the EU AVMS Directive, has been criticised for allowing political control over the Audio-visual Media Authority and failing to ensure its independence.

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