Tirana, 30 March 2026 – A recent press conference by the Ministry of Finance of Albania, part of a newly introduced practice of weekly live briefings, offered a rare moment in Albania of direct exchange between institutions and journalists. The format itself is a welcome step, but the conditions under which such exchanges take place are equally important. During this press conference, the official live feed was reportedly interrupted on the Ministry of Finance’s official page while journalist Osman Stafa of News24 was asking questions. The exchange remained available only through the camera feed and the online transmission of News24. Transparency requires access and continuity, particularly when journalists are raising issues of public interest.
From administrative procedure to questions of power
During the press conference, journalist Osman Stafa raised concerns that went beyond technical explanations of tax inspections. His questions pointed to potential selectivity, reported internal practices within the tax administration, and the absence of clear accountability when decisions are overturned. He also referred to a specific situation linked to reporting by the show “Vetting” on News24, describing what he called a “wave of retaliatory fines” affecting businesses connected to the media.
The responses from Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, and Director General of the Albanian Tax Administration, Ilir Binaj, remained within the boundaries of procedure. Inspections were described as risk-based and grounded in legal criteria such as unpaid social contributions, suspicious funding sources, and low declared salaries. Confidentiality was cited as a limitation, and journalists were directed toward formal complaint mechanisms. The exchange revealed a gap between how the system is formally presented and how it is perceived when concerns involve media actors.
A shift in focus: from institutional accountability to journalists’ conditions
A notable moment came when the Minister introduced a different line of argument, stating to the journalist:
“I would be concerned about whether your social contributions are being paid, because you will reach a point where you will not be able to receive the dignified pension you are entitled to. It will be you, again, who after some years will come and demand accountability from the Ministry of Finance or the tax administration for the fact that this administration did not take the necessary measures to compel certain entities to pay health and social contributions.”
From a journalist perspective, this shifted the focus away from the concerns raised, namely, the use of administrative powers and the question of accountability, and placed it on individual employment conditions. While the issue of unpaid or irregular social contributions in the media sector is real and longstanding, framing it in this way risks suggesting that the burden of concern lies with journalists themselves, who often have limited control over how their employment is structured.
From a principle-based standpoint, responsibility for ensuring that salaries are properly declared and social contributions are paid lies with employers and with state institutions responsible for enforcement. Journalists cannot reasonably be expected to carry this responsibility individually. For them, labour conditions are not only a matter of future pensions, but of present professional security and independence.
Journalists between exposure and precarity
The exchange illustrates a structural reality: journalists in Albania operate at the intersection of institutional exposure and economic vulnerability. On one side, journalists engaging in reporting of public interest may raise questions about powerful institutions and face administrative or legal consequences that are difficult to challenge in real time. On the other side, many work within media environments where labour protections are weak, making them more vulnerable and less able to withstand external pressure.
These two dimensions are closely linked. A journalist whose employment is insecure, or whose basic social protections are not guaranteed, is inherently more exposed. In this sense, labour rights are not a separate issue, they are central to journalist safety and media freedom.
Moving forward
This exchange highlights the need to move beyond formal assurances and ensure that safeguards, transparency, and accountability mechanisms are both visible and effective in practice, particularly when administrative powers intersect with media actors. Clear communication, consistent application of procedures, and openness during public scrutiny are essential to avoid perceptions of selectivity and to build trust.
At the same time, addressing journalists’ working conditions must remain a priority. Ensuring that labour rights are respected, including proper contracts and social contributions, is not only a matter of social protection but a prerequisite for professional independence. Responsibility for this lies with employers and enforcement institutions, and requires consistent oversight.
For journalists, these two dimensions are inseparable. Strengthening labour protections without addressing the broader environment of pressure, or vice versa, risks leaving underlying vulnerabilities unresolved. A comprehensive approach is needed to ensure that journalists can work securely, independently, and without undue interference.