Veliaj Violates RTV Ora & Ora News Journalists, AMC Reacts: Illegal Restriction Of Duty

The Albanian Media Council reacts after the intimidation and violation that the mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj and his bodyguards did to the journalists of Ora News, Isa Myzyraj and Ronaldo Sharka.

According to AMC, while considering the case of Myzyraj, the journalist of Ora News was illegally restricted from practicing his profession, in order to inform in the public interest, in public premises.

Full response:

In light of the incident that occurred yesterday with the journalist of Ora News, the Albanian Media Council feels obliged to determine the ethical standards of interviewing, professional obligations and rights of the journalist who interviews in the field, based on the Code of Ethics of the Albanian Journalist.

1. It is the absolute right of a journalist to ask questions and point the microphone at anyone. The journalist's questions should be of public interest.
2. People elected to public office have less privacy protection than ordinary people. The higher the post, the lower the range of privacy. Public persons have a duty to answer questions of public interest.
3. A journalist may not insert recording equipment and make unauthorized recordings in the private premises of an individual, be it a public official.
4. The journalist cannot be hindered in his work as a journalist, nor can his freedom be restricted during the exercise of his duty, especially when this duty is performed in public places.

Regarding the above, AMC deems that the journalist of Ora News has been illegally restricted from practicing his profession, in order to inform in the public interest, in public premises.

English News rtv ora veliaj journalists violation AMC