The Secretary General of the Audiovisual Media Authority AMA, together with high level officials of the institution, held a meeting today with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation. The delegation included the Special Coordinator of the OSCE’s permanent election Observation Mission, for the May 11 elections, Ms. Farah Karimi, Ambassador Andreas Nothelle, and Mr. Sherif Abdili, Official from the OSCE International Secretariat.
AMA representatives addressed the experts interest regarding the monitoring process, the main focus areas during election periods, as well as the methodology used for monitoring and analyzing media content in general.
According to the Electoral Code provisions, AMA is responsible for monitoring electoral campaign coverage in audiovisual media. This monitoring is conducted throughout the entire territory where elections are held, and the Authority presents its findings in detailed reports submitted to the CEC for further action. In compliance with the Electoral Code, the CEC has approved the methodology for monitoring audio and audiovisual media, which outlines the procedures and techniques followed by AMA during the election campaign monitoring process.
Discussion topics were also the way the electoral campaign is being covered by audiovisual media, the use of hate speech, the right to information, etc. The delegation visited the monitoring studio and was introduced more closely to the monitoring methodology, not only of the campaign but also of audio and audiovisual media in Albania.
With the electoral campaign official start, AMA’s monitoring teams are fully engaged in overseeing coverage by audio and audiovisual media. For this reason, AMA has asked the audiovisual media service providers to uphold professionalism in reporting and to adhere to the Electoral Code requirements. In its call to audiovisual media operators prior to the start of the campaign, the Authority emphasized the importance of professional and ethical reporting, balanced analysis, and the organization of electoral debates conducted in a professional manner and with respectful communication, avoiding personal insults or denigration between guests and moderators partisan behavior. This is not only in line with the Electoral Code requirements but also reflects the increased public interest and scrutiny surrounding the May 11 election process.
