TERRORISM THROUGH DAILY PRESS IN ALBANIA:

STABLE COVERING OF INTERNATIONAL TOPICS

by Llazar Semini

Albania and Korrieri, two of the most distinguished out of 14 Albanian dailies, have qualified staffs with experienced journalists capable, though reluctant sometimes, to make analysis and comments of the day events. That was noticed during the coverage of the last terrorist attacks and their aftermath in the United States and the world. But the start of the military attack from the United States and Britain against Afghanistan’s regime sheltering the alleged organizer of the September 11 terrorist attacks brought out some of the best characteristics and efforts of the Albanian journalism.

Two clearly defined trends were noticed in the two newspapers showing many of their merits but also their weak points, which refer to the Albanian print media in general too.

Albania concentrated more in the detailed coverage of the terrorism-linked events in the whole world, its effects, consequences and results of the military and diplomatic efforts worldwide led by Washington.

Korrieri showed a nice feature that should be promoted in the local press – trying to find the local interest in the world events, giving more space to what Albania was doing, feeling or affecting the international events, its importance to the world and for itself.

• Sources

These two newspapers show a good tendency to involve as many resources as possible in covering international events trying to be impartial. International western news agencies, newspapers and magazines, and those of the Arab world are the main sources. They have exploited all the possible means and tools to involve the local resources -- most senior personalities up to health experts -- in reactions to the situation.

Both newspapers have published the pens of international writers and personalities. Worth mentioning is also Korrieri’s effort in involving an international correspondent (Elisabeth Rubin of New Yorker) to write for them from Afghanistan’s front of war.

• Language

After a decade of post-communist experience the Albanian press is very careful in the use of its language concerning international matters. This time as well one could hardly find any harsh words in covering the developments of terrorist-linked events and the military attack even when writing about the alleged terrorist accused persons or groups. It is especially careful when dealing with Islam thematic. It has properly used the language to show terrorism has nothing to do with Islam (No war against the Islamic world; This is a fight against terrorism, not Islam – Albania, October 12, 19).

• Albania and terrorism issue, Islam

Albania’s consequences, its role and position, its efforts to fight terrorism and the assistance to the international attack have predominated Korrieri  newspaper more than Albania. Korrieri makes a thorough coverage and analysis paying much attention to the local developments, being very critical in some cases or giving merits to the local authorities. Soon after the military attacks started it dedicates a whole page to the local developments (Tirana, CIA takes 16 Arabs; Commandoes protect strategic objects; Albania’s role in the war against terror; reactions from the government, police and political parties – October 9), continuing the next day with more stories and analysis (Terrorism, Albania in a delicate situation; Premier at the parliament for terrorism issue; Foreigners to be checked). It dedicates every day part of its coverage to the local developments. It aims at showing Albania is not a shelter for terrorist groups.

Albania gives a very limited space to such an issue, concentrating mainly in the reasons why Albania, its parliament and the government should do more to adapt to the international efforts in such a world-wide anti-terror attack. (Anti-terror laws, Albania too delayed, on October 18). Nevertheless it has made some nice comments on the reasons why it should strive more.

The two newspapers have paid special attention to a response letter of the American President Bush to the Premier Ilir Meta on thanking Albania’s support in the fight against terrorism. While Albania published only the letter, Korrieri added a comment on its importance though it was a very formal protocol letter. That could show among other things the country considers Washington support as very decisive in these still unstable moments for itself. But on the other side it might also be an effort used by the ruling officials for political reasons to show the international support to them.

Albania is a predominantly Islamic country with two thirds of its population. During the coverage of the last events the whole Albanian media has been careful not to link terrorist acts with Islam stressing they are two completely different things.

“This (military) campaign has nothing to do with religion in general and Islam specifically but with a terrorist network threatening the security of any citizen in the world and with a regime that shelters and promotes that,” says Lutfi Dervishi’s editorial at Albania, October 9.

It goes, however, even further. “By stopping fundamentalism now the world would save itself from the prospect of confrontation of the peoples with different religion that would turn us into the medieval period,” said the commentary by Sabri Godo at Korrieri, October 9. “Bin Laden and his supporters should be denounced as enemies of the Islam religion… While separating the Islam religion from terrorism, any anti-Moslem hysteria should be stopped,” he continues on October 18.

• Place and Pictures

A very important place was given to the coverage of the launch of the military anti-terror campaign and its developments in the world. While until October 7, news and comments on the terrorism developments were normally placed at the pages of the international politics, the launch of the military attack put them in the cover pages with editorials and pictures. Albania kept the issue almost every day in its cover page. News was regularly covered at the international news pages also dedicating  full pages.

Pictures published in both newspapers were received by Reuters news agency. Their content varied in accordance with the day events and their stories. They had pictures of missiles launched by warships or their effects in Afghanistan. Bit-by-bit they turned into more social-related ones with effects of the attacks on the common people, destructions and victims among the population, or protests against the military actions.

• Editorials

In two weeks both dailies had seven editorials on the issue.

Albania’s editor-in-chief Lutfi Dervishi writes on October 9 “How Albania can contribute to the new war”. After making clear that Albania is “ranked with the civilized world forces”, it says the “real contribution” to the fight against terrorism would be if “political tensions were lowered”, “by positively affecting developments in Macedonia and Kosovo”, “by securing its borders”.

Afrim Krasniqi of the same paper writes about the world unison in the fight against terrorism. He concludes that Albania, too, ”a country that for 1,000 reasons has experienced the American tragedy as its own one, has undertaken the same decision.”

Two editorials were written by the U.S. analyst Janusz Bugajsky (one in each newspaper) explaining at length the extent of the international effort.

Korrieri, on its side, played differently with its editorials. Out of four editorials on the issue, the rightist Republican politician Sabri Godo wrote two. He explained why the world supports the American-British attacks. “American leadership in the global fight against terrorism is a necessity.” “Dimensions of the fight against terrorism cannot be foreseen”. Then Godo becomes aggressive in the next editorial. “A paradox of colossal measures is happening. While in Asia, and in the other part of the world no one is declared in favour of terrorism, we notice waves of protests against the attacks on Afghanistan.” “It is hard to find an explanation for the protests in Europe,” he adds. “How is it possible that the memory and mind of part of the western citizens moves like the tide of waters under the moon effect?” He strongly criticized protests held in neighbouring Italy warning that such development could weaken the anti-terror coalition. He urged the anti-terror fight to speed up.

Interesting to see an editorial criticizing Albanians of speaking so much and taking care of the world’s problems. “Before dealing with Bin Laden, for whom there are others to take care of, it would be better we deal with corruption, trafficking and a thousand our problems,” it wrote at Korrieri, October 10.

• Themes covering the issue

Of course the main issue was the military attacks, their daily developments (U.S. continues bombing – Albania, October 10) (U.S. attack, what is happening in Afghanistan – Korrieri, October 9).

Developments in the United States, the international diplomacy and, of course, anthrax events were among the main stories during this time (108 states under President Bush command; Clinton, how he prevented 15 Bin Laden’s attacks – Albania, October 10, 12) (Anthrax, alarm in U.S. and Germany; U.S., China, together against terror - Korrieri 12, 20).

When dealing with the anthrax threat the newspapers paid special attention with full pages where they not only covered the events but also explained its danger and the measures people should normally consider (Albania on October 12, 13, 14, 16, and Korrieri on October 14, 17, 20).

Developments around the world, especially in Pakistan found a relatively good place in the news (New threat against western coalition by the Pakistani Islamic radical leaders at Albania October 11, or Pakistan, mind the civilians at Korrieri October 16).

Newspapers explain why it is right to attack the Taleban regime not only sheltering the most wanted terrorist, but also presenting a continuous threat to the world security (Here is how terrorists secure funding; - Albania on October 10) (U.S., should we topple Talebans or not - Korrieri October 20).

• Analysis / Comments / Interviews

Different analytical pieces were written aiming at separating terrorist acts from the Islamic world. Newspapers explained why the Taleban regime was dangerous for its people being and for the world security by sheltering and promoting terrorism.

It should be noted that the authors were predominantly international correspondents or personalities. Albania and Korrieri published comments from BBC, or British Premier Tony Blair’s interview to an Arab newspaper and speeches on legitimating the military attack (Albania, October 11; Korrieri, October 9); or comments from Janusz Bugajsky, also referring to international newspapers and magazines like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Time, The Observer, La Reppublica and others.            Interviews by U.S. officials like President George W. Bush, Colin Powell and others often find space in the newspapers.

• George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden

The U.S. President George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden are the most present names every day. Almost any news, analysis or comment mentions them quite often creating an illusion as if the whole clash now is between these two personalities, the good and the bad one. They published at length a story of an American newspaper on the ways they have created their business (Korrieri, October 11). Nevertheless they always referred to international comments and not their own.

• Some considerations

Monitoring these two weeks on a specific topic showed the development of the local press in Albania during these transitory years. It seems that in international issues the Albanian press is more stabilized and experienced, something that is not applied that much when dealing with the local matters. It was good to see how the Albanian press was trying to impose its opinion among the people that the country is part of the modernized world. The extent of the coverage showed how important this issue is in the country and it is a good reflection of the local efforts to get adapted to the westernized method of working.

Upon praising the use of that many resources and opinions from international personalities, it should also be noted that the local press still lacks the financial resources to be more independent in its coverage. A slight effort is seen in ‘hiring’ an international correspondent to write for them, something that with a more stabilized financial situation could be used more often.

These two weeks showed that the Albanian press still lacks in abundance the experts or analysts of international issues. It is more often either the editor-in-chief or any politician debating over the issues and not the common newspaper journalists.

But overall that is a good basis to continue the same method of coverage for other international issues that are less important, or sometimes more linked with the local environment, like developments in the still unstabilised Balkan region.

Albania newspaper, October 7-22, 2001

Albania had 3 editorials, 21 comments/analyses, 76 news stories and 2 interviews. Terrorism-linked stories were put 3 times on front page, 11 times at the international news pages and 4 times at local news pages. There were 8 pictures on front page, 22 in international news pages and 9 at local news pages. The newspaper has referred in 13 cases in local sources and 89 international ones.

Korrieri newspaper, October 7-22, 2001

  Korrieri had 5 editorials, 24 comments/analyses, 58 news stories and 3 interviews. Terrorism-linked stories were put 5 times on front page, 11 times at the international news pages and 7 times at local news pages. There were 3 pictures on front page, 23 in international news pages and 6 at local news pages. The newspaper has referred in 33 cases in local sources, 56 international ones and in one case had hired an international correspondent in Afghanistan.

Note:   These two newspapers have their days off on Monday, so October 8, 15 and 22.

Llazar Semini is a free lance journalist and IWPR correspondent from Tirana. ©Media Online 2001. All rights reserved.

source: MHxJU
published by: Roland Brunner rbr@medienhilfe.ch date of release on this site: 27-11-2001

go to top

P.O. Box, CH-8031 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41-1-272 46 37,  Fax +41-1-272 46 82, email: info@MEDIENHILFE.ch