Author: Dallandyshe Xhaferri
Before the dawn sheds its first rays of morning, Anila's alarm on her cell phone breaks the silence at five in the morning, heralding the start of a day that will take her to the buzzing newsroom where work starts at 6 am. As a young journalist working for one of the most popular television portals in the country, Anila seeks to complement her career by pursuing a master's degree. Despite her passion and determination, Anila tells Sinjalizo the challenging realities that journalists face every day, especially those who are new to the profession.
Although journalists have the power to raise their voice about the rights that can be violated in the workplace of professionals of various profiles, they remain shy and divided when it comes to finding a solution to their problems. The fear that her real name can be identified has made her choose the name Anila in her confession to Sinjalizo.
"I have been working as a journalist for 8 months in one of the most popular online media in the country. From the beginning, I was asked for a diploma, a forensic medical report, and proof of criminal record, even though I signed the contract only 3 months ago and I still don't have a copy of it," she tells "Sinjalizo," adding that she works 8 hours a day and in one hour she has to publish at least 5 articles in different categories. Despite having to work overtime every day, she has never been paid for them.
"Like most media outlets in Albania, our salaries have never been paid on time in these 8 months. There are always delays of 2 to 4 weeks," says Anila, who adds that she is still paid the minimum wage.
Aleksandër Çipa, Chairman of the Union of Albanian Journalists, says that the most complaints of journalists for the period 2023-2024 are related to delays in receiving monthly payments. This problem is faced by journalists of traditional media such as television and radio, but also those of new media such as portals.
"Online media do not always have the opportunity to pay journalists because some of them are not even registered," says Aleksandër Çipa, adding that the employer's refusal to grant permission to go to work in another media outlet where the journalist can be paid more has been accompanied by an increase in court cases between both parties.
Anila's case shows another problem of employees in the country, that of not knowing the Labor Code and not being aware to demand the respect of rights in the workplace.
While talking about her previous experience as a journalist in another online media, Anilat emphasizes that she did not sign any employment contract for more than 1 and a half years. Moreover, it was unable to react to the announcement that the number of journalists' staff would be reduced due to the lack of funds for the realization of monthly payments.
"The lack of recognition of our rights as employees left us unemployed and unable to do anything. My colleagues and I had not signed any employment contracts and the insurance was paid once every 3 months," she tells "Sinjalizo".
According to the Albanian Labor Code , the employee must be informed of the termination of the employment contract by the employer two months before leaving the workplace. This notice period must be respected if an employment relationship between the two parties has been signed for 3 to 5 years. In the event that a contract for more than 5 years has been signed between the employer and the employee, it can only be terminated after 5 years and the employee is notified 3 months in advance. However, employers in the media field are still far from respecting this point of the Labor Code.
Underpaid and self-censored journalists
Esmeralda Keta, a journalist who has been investigating various issues in the country for many years, tells "Sinjalizo" that despite the fact that the job market in journalism has made positive steps compared to 10-20 years ago, journalists still face challenges various, which start from late payments up to 6 months to informality, where journalists return part of the payment received through the bank account manually to the employer.
"The employment contract in a large part of the media continues to be a formal document, where the employee always wins and the journalist can be thrown out on the street, regardless of the contract ," says Keta, emphasizing that while the state sector has increased salaries several times, salaries in the media have remained static for several years. This fact has increased the dissatisfaction of journalists. Some of them have given up this profession, while others have chosen to emigrate, despite their long experience.
According to journalist Keta, journalists do not even benefit from official days off, which are not compensated with additional payments, although the contracts are drawn up based on the labor code.
The Labor Code stipulates that in the case of work on the day of weekly rest, the reward can be either a salary supplement of not less than 25%, or paid leave, equal to the duration of the work performed.
It is very rare that journalists working in private media receive 4 weeks of annual leave as stipulated by the Labor Code.
These problems have also been associated with the shrinking of the journalist's freedom to carry out his work professionally. According to Esmeralda Keta, the intervention of politics in the media and the direct connections it creates with media leaders has led to an increase in self-censorship among journalists.
Meanwhile, for Aleksandër Čipa, another factor that becomes an obstacle for journalists to exercise their profession professionally is related to the incomplete answers given by the public authorities within the law on the right to information.
"Public authorities provide routine, general responses that are mainly related to their willingness to communicate, but not to their willingness to provide the specific information requested by journalists," says Aleksandër Çipa.
Journalism, need for self-regulation
According to a study published 4 years ago by the Albanian Helsinki Committee, informality in journalism is a problem that has been going on for years. 23.33% of the sample of journalists surveyed from across the country say they do not receive their full payment in their bank account.
One of the main findings of this study is related to the safety of journalists in the workplace.
"Young journalists, more than experienced ones, report that their employer addresses them in an offensive manner. They also feel unsupported by their colleagues if they have a conflict with their employer. As a result, they are less inclined to defend their rights...", - the Albanian Helsinki Committee's study reads.
Despite the accompanying problems in the professional life of journalists, building a union is not seen as a solution.
"For the last three decades, unions in Albania have been used as they wanted by all politicians and in many cases have been used as a stepping stone, which has ruined the work of employees. This is why when you say union, it is viewed with suspicion, but I think that the media needs an organization. There is a need for a union, but one that gathers all journalists under one umbrella and not be divided into several unions, associations or associations," says journalist Esmeralda Keta, while for journalist Çipa, Albania has wasted time creating a union for journalists, who should follow the path of self-regulation.
According to Çipa, it is necessary to create a national Congress of media self-regulation where all interested entities in the media scene are represented, such as journalist organizations, media organizations, media owners' associations, public media entities such as AMA (Audiovisual Media Authority) and AKEP (Electronic and Postal Communication Authority). "After this Congress is convened, the National Council of Self-Regulation and the National Executive Board of Self-Regulation should be elected. If we respect both of these structures, we will have another reality in the field of self-regulation," Çipa concludes for "Sinjalizo"
Anila's story tells not only about her struggles, but about a phenomenon that affects most journalists and media workers.
There can be no media freedom when journalists have vital challenges and great professional insecurities.
While the daily work for Anila ends long after the sun sets, it is time for a new dawn in the Albanian media where those who raise their voices for the violation of the rights of others find the strength to raise their voices for their rights as well.
This article was created based on input provided by individuals who have chosen to speak up. Share your story, empower others and be an agent for change. Visit the website: www.acqj.al/sinjalizo-dhe-ti/
