Twelve years ago, one of the events that stayed at the center of international media attention for weeks was a video showing that the British Prime Minister David Cameron had forgotten his 8-year-old daughter in a pub.
All media outlets, including the public broadcaster BBC News, reported it as news, adhering to all journalistic standards. The video showed distinguishing images of the girl, explained the event and the sequence of what happened, and included experts who provided statistics on how common such incidents are among parents. In the end, the Camerons were contacted and they said, “We felt relieved that we found her and that this could happen to anyone.”
At the same time, a major debate arose: Can an 8-year-old child be placed at the center of media coverage for an entire month just because her father is the Prime Minister? Why were thousands of other children who experienced the same thing not subjects of similar reports? Why should the psychological trauma of a minor be risked, and the family’s privacy be violated over how they spend their afternoon?
These questions were countered with others: Does the fact that the Prime Minister forgets his child in a pub constitute public interest? Are we dealing with an irresponsible Prime Minister in governance if he is the same in family life?
This event came to mind because of what has been happening in recent hours with the investigation aired yesterday by the program Piranjat. The appointed mayor of Tirana, along with her husband and child, use three vehicles and three drivers paid with public funds for personal needs.
Faced with this fact, instead of apologizing or offering a humane explanation about the family circumstances that forced her to commit this abuse, Ms. Ristani began to insult the journalist!
No difference in arrogance compared to her predecessor, no accountability—instead, she makes statements that incite hateful language against journalists and their mission. Even after the broadcast of the program, there was no reflection, only threats of criminal investigations claiming that the private life of her child had been persecuted and violated.
If Ms. Ristani were truly concerned about her child, she would not use that kind of language in front of the cameras, as it would first miseducate her own child. If she genuinely cared, she would not teach the minor how to steal and abuse public funds.
But the issue here is not the morality she tries to convey to us, nor the morality we should impose on a mother, even if she is a mayor. The main point here is that, with public funds, her child is accompanied to school, her husband to work, and she herself to the gym. So the logic of this family is that the child’s privacy does not have to be violated just because his mother holds a public office, but he can benefit from the perks of power and be forgiven for any abuse because he is a minor!
From what I saw, Piranjat adhered to every ethical standard. Every word in the report was supported by footage and documents; both parties, Ms. Ristani and her husband, were interviewed, and shots showing the child’s accompaniment were avoided. Personally, if I were in Ms. Ristani’s position, I would promote these journalistic standards in my statement.
The issue is that officials here do not want journalism to have standards, because when there are no standards, power controls it more easily.
In the 1950s in England, Prime Minister Clement Attlee’s staff used to tell a joke when asked what his greatest fear was: “The newspapers in the morning,” they would say.
That’s why this is the difference between a free media and a captured one: when the media is free, it can topple those in power; when it’s captured, it protects them. Anyone who breaks ranks is attacked in every way—sometimes directly by those in power, and other times by using journalists themselves.
Ola Xama është gazetare në fushën e ekonomisë prej 15 vitesh, e fokusuar së fundi në zhanrin e analizave dhe investigimeve. Është autore e emisionit investigativ ‘Kronos’ në MCN Tv, dhe më parë ka punuar si gazetare në fushën e ekonomisë në televizionet Euronews Albania, Klan Tv dhe Vizion Plus. Është autore e dhjetra investigimeve që lidhen me financat, pastrimin e parave dhe abuzimet e autoriteve publike me qytetarët. Është diplomuar pranë Universitetit të Tiranës në degën Gazetari dhe ka përfunduar studimet master në të njëjtën degë.
