On February 13, 2025, the first workshop on professional and accurate reporting of Albania’s EU accession negotiations was held at the premises of the Albanian Public Broadcaster (RTSH). This event was organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance (CSDG) as part of an institutional collaboration with RTSH, aiming to strengthen journalists’ capacities in covering European integration issues.
This training represents a significant step toward improving the reporting quality on Chapter Cluster 1 “Fundamentals First,” which includes the rule of law, fundamental rights, public administration, and public procurement. Given the complexity of the accession negotiations, the role of public media is essential in providing citizens with accurate information on the progress of reforms and EU requirements.
The main objective of this workshop was to enhance the capacity of RTSH journalists to better understand and report on Albania’s EU accession negotiations. Through this activity, participants had the opportunity to discuss key challenges in media coverage of negotiations and the importance of reporting based on accurate and reliable sources.
During the workshop, CSDG experts presented nine key topics that will be explored in greater detail in future training sessions for RTSH journalists. Each topic was introduced through an analytical and comparative approach, drawing from the experiences of other countries that have undergone the EU accession process.
The participating journalists welcomed this initiative, considering it an important opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the EU integration process. They emphasized the need to continue collaborating with expert organizations to ensure more accurate and in-depth reporting on EU-related issues.
Participants highlighted that:
• Limited access to information and specialized sources remains a barrier to in-depth reporting on negotiations.
• Collaboration with EU experts and civil society organizations will help improve the quality of reporting.
• Future training sessions should focus on data processing and investigative analysis techniques to assess reforms and their implementation.
This training is just the first step in a series of activities aimed at enhancing journalists’ capacities for professional and accurate reporting on Albania’s EU accession process.