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As August faded and September arrived headlines offered a surreal snapshot of our fragile planet. Mixed together were mentions of deep water (Pakistan), no water (Mississippi), civil disorder (Iraq, Mali and Chile), sports (Williams sisters), and losses (Mikhail Gorbachev). Dotting the major news outlets were scary headlines about energy supplies mixed with economics, sour and otherwise. Fortunately a bit of levity was offered; something else about Elon Musk or that python in a stupor after swallowing the pet cat.
To one degree or another, one particular headline jumped out everywhere. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors reached the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) and took a look inside. Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest in Europe. It is in Ukraine and, thus, has been under relentless shelling by Russian Federation forces, who occupy the power plant, surrounding the team of Ukrainian nuclear technicians. Those living downwind, millions of folks, are not unreasonably concerned that a Russian mortar shell, errant or otherwise, would set off nuclear winter, otherwise known as the end of the world. Editors everywhere have taken note. (See more about conflict zones here)
Reporters were allowed to accompany the IAEA inspectors, but only those from Russian state outlets, reported Ukrainian media news portal Media Detector (September 2). Ukrainian and international news crews were denied entry, pointed out Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyi. “Although promised the occupiers did not let journalists in, but organized a mass of their propagandists. Unfortunately, IAEA representatives did not protect representatives of independent mass media.” Russian authorities “feared” there would be “spies and saboteurs” within the international media pool, noted Russian exile news portal Meduza (September 2), but said some IAEA inspectors would be allowed to remain at the facility. Blessing or curse?
Just past the midpoint of 2022, world attention remains focused - in a sense - on big issues and places. Russian Federation forces continue to bomb and blast parts of Ukraine, including that nuclear power plant. China remains agitated by any support, tacit or diplomatic, given to Taiwan. Inflation, energy and food supplies, and threats thereof, are jolting economic systems. Every day there is another terrible climate story. The coronavirus has not disappeared. Meanwhile, authoritarian rulers see nothing but opportunity.
The Western Balkans, those south-central European countries once part of or adjacent to Yugoslavia, have been battered by all of this. They are small and economically disadvantaged, often corrupt, distant from major capitals. Several have been on the European Union (EU) accession list for years. No threat. No headlines.
Never part of former Yugoslavia but nearby, Albania is a mere sidelight on the global stage. The region, however, is a scene of one internecine rivalry after another. Albanian prime minister Edi Rama is intent on keeping everybody in the dark about what does and doesn’t go on in the country, noted Reporters sans Frontieres Germany (ROG) Western Balkans desk officer Birger Schütz to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) (August 30). (See more about press freedom here)
Herr Schütz reviewed PM Rama’s “aversion to journalists.” When a TV reporter in July asked foreign minister Olta Xhaçka a question about conflict of interest, the prime minister quickly interjected: “I’ll give you the answer. For the next three months, you will be subjected to a re-education measure: you will no longer be welcome at any press conference.” The term - re-education - was a favorite of late Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha. Mr. Rama used it to chide another TV reporter last March for asking about corruption. (See more about media in Albania here) (See more about media in Western Balkans here)
After an accident at sea in early August resulted in the death of a child, PM Rama lashed out at “political-media animals” for news coverage. Albania’s most significant media outlets are politically subservient, noted independent news portal Exit AL (August 13). “Biased reporting is directly related to media ownership.” In the 2022 annual RSF Global Press Freedom Index Albania dropped to 103 from 83, year on year. Turkey and Greece fared worse, Serbia a bit better.
Independent publishers continue to struggle. This seems like a tireless refrain. From irate politicians to higher costs and debt, not to forget changing digital times, there is plenty of blame to go around.
Six weeks ago, the future for Algeria’s leading independent French-language newspaper El Watan was very dark indeed. Although it resumed newsstand distribution in mid-August, “none of the problems that created this crisis have been resolved and the newspaper’s survival remains in doubt,” said press freedom advocate Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) in a summary (August 17). Algeria’s other notable independent French-language newspaper Liberté shutdown earlier this year.
Publisher Mohamed Tahar Messaoudi blames unsympathetic Algerian authorities. A new tax was levied, based on unsold copies of the printed newspaper. El Watan, he said to French socialist newspaper Courrier International (August 18), was singled out, it seems. A payment schedule was agreed then dismissed. Bank accounts have been blocked. Employees, unpaid for months, have gone on strike off and on. “We are undergoing attempted financial asphyxiation.”
El Watan rose in 1990, a buoyant period in Algeria for media, as an “intellectual adventure.” State advertising, an indirect subsidy, gave the appearance of business success. “The economic model (was) totally dependent on advertising,” noted Le Monde (July 27). Social and political pressures put a damper on. Twenty-five years on all advertising was in retreat. The coronavirus pandemic “heavily impacted the financial health of the company.” The “adventure” appears to be coming to an end.
Several high profile media transactions announced over the last eighteen months have yielded considerable confusion, general resistance and, of course, big headlines. Some have flopped altogether. In more placid times mergers and acquisitions would have been diligently negotiated through armies of lawyers and accountants, controlling all possibilities, bringing success to all. No this is not another Elon Musk-Twitter story.
A week and a half ago, well-regarded French news magazine Paris Match “news, politics and economics” editor-in-chief Bruno Jeudy departed, reported Le Monde (August 18). Paris Match is published by Lagardère, currently being acquired by giant conglomerate Vivendi, principally controlled by billionaire Vincent Bolloré. M Jeudy had held that position since 2015 after similar engagements with other French publications. He regularly appears on radio and television as an expert on the French political right. (See more about mergers and acquisitions here)
In July a Paris Match cover story appeared featuring ultraconservative Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah. M Jeudy’s opposition to this placement and subject was “overruled.” He had also opposed the decision to not feature president Emmanuel Macron on the front page after his reelection, a Paris Match tradition, noted daily Ouest France (August 23). Chief editors at French publications - by tradition as much as law - are the ultimate decision makers. Said Le Monde (February 16), M Bolloré seems intent on “ideological alignment” creating “a rightwing private ORTF,” a reference to the post-war French state broadcasting agency. (See more about media in France here)
After M Jeudy’s departure - by “mutual agreement,” said the memo - the editorial staff erupted.“The editorial staff saw this departure as a sanction.” Trade union SDJ Paris Match overwhelmingly voted a motion of no confidence in management. "We consider that the future of Paris Match is threatened and this, in the context of the takeover of the Lagardère group, owner of Paris Match, by the Vivendi group and its reference shareholder, the Bolloré group. The press is a profession that imposes duties and cannot be confined to financial operations or influence strategies,” said the SDJ Paris Match statement, reported AFP (August 22). Trade unions have considerable power in France over boardroom decisions but, ultimately, the owners win.
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