AMA raises the alarm and comes out with an urgent announcement: People with criminal records are being treated as "heroes" in the media

The Audiovisual Media Authority has raised concerns about the content broadcast on screens.

In an official reaction, the AMA emphasizes that people with criminal records are being treated as "heroes" and are allowed to act as protagonists, justifying their acts of violence, other legal violations or socially harmful behavior with adventurous notes. According to the AMA, these approaches encourage and justify violence or restore conflict between citizens.

The AMA urges all media to engage in avoiding inappropriate content that promotes and justifies violence through the emotionally glorifying presentation of people with criminal records. For the identified cases, administrative procedures will be followed, according to the legislation in force.

Avoiding audiovisual content that incites and justifies violence

The Audiovisual Media Authority, AMA, during the process of monitoring and reviewing the content transmitted by the OSHMAs, referring to the requirements of Law 97/2013, "On Audiovisual Media in the Republic of Albania", as amended, has identified a recurring problem. Appreciating as much as possible the audiovisual coverage of public order security issues, investigations to clarify current or past criminal events, assistance in the prevention of criminal acts, the investigation of suspected perpetrators, etc., AMA simultaneously notes with concern that persons with criminal records sometimes they are treated as "heroes" and allowed to act as protagonists, justifying with adventurous notes their acts of violence, other legal violations or socially harmful behavior.

Bazuar në ligjin 97/2013, i ndryshuar ( neni 4, Parimet themelore për veprimtarinë e transmetimeve audiovizive), sipas të cilit OSHMA-të udhëhiqen nga parimi i moslejimit të transmetimeve që “nxisin intolerancën ndërmjet shtetasve”, (pika 2/d), “nxisin dhe justifikojnë dhunën” apo “ mund të nxisin vepra penale” ( neni 33, pika 1/d), veç mesazhit të gabuar, që japin për mbarë shoqërinë, këto përmbajtje audiovizive, referuar orarit të transmetimit, ndikojnë negativisht veçanërisht te të miturit, duke nxitur imitimin e modeleve dhe formave të sjelljes së papërshtatshme dhe ushtruar rrjedhimisht ndikim negativ në edukimin e tyre. Kjo megjithëse referuar ligjit 97/2013, i ndryshuar, transmetimet audiovizive duhet të “respektojnë në mënyrë të veçantë të drejtat, interesat dhe kërkesat morale e ligjore për mbrojtjen e fëmijëve”, (neni 4, pika 1/b).

Based on the above, the AMA has addressed several concerns for OSHMAs while continuing to monitor broadcast content.

In this context, the AMA urges all media to engage in avoiding inappropriate content that promotes and justifies violence, through the emotional glorification of people with criminal records. For the identified cases, administrative procedures will be followed, according to the legislation in force.
AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA AUTHORITY