The Albanian public broadcaster (RTSH) is reported to be facing a deep financial and governance crisis that, according to journalists and media reports, has left dozens of journalists and external collaborators unpaid for up to five months, despite their programs being produced and broadcast. Since April 2025, staff and contributors have repeatedly sought explanations from RTSH leadership, but no official communication or timeline for repayment has been provided, as reported in the media.

Journalist and producer Kozeta Kurti went public on September 8, stating: “My team and I have 12 unpaid works out of 14 in total… more than the lack of payment, what hurts is the arrogance and the fact that we remain transparent while the management of the institution chooses silence.” Her words illustrate concerns expressed by some collaborators about the lack of dialogue with RTSH management.

In an editorial on Reporter.al, journalist Elsa Demo underscored that financial collapse cannot justify non-payment: “‘An empty till’ is not an argument. Not when it comes to a public institution, funded by taxpayers, and not when it comes to professionals who have fulfilled their obligations.” She further noted that RTSH’s silence and lack of transparency not only harm the rights of workers but also risk undermining public trust in the broadcaster’s role as a taxpayer-funded institution.

As reported by the media, several collaborators are said to have initiated legal proceedings to claim overdue salaries, while others confirm that repeated requests for information have gone unanswered.

As highlighted in SafeJournalists’ previous coverage, RTSH’s financial crisis has reached a critical threshold: its leadership has formally requested an emergency €2 million bailout, citing approximately €8 million in liabilities from past mismanagement and unauthorized contracts. However, the crisis at RTSH is more than a financial shortfall. It reflects deeper structural weaknesses in governance, transparency, and editorial independence with direct consequences for staff and for the broadcaster’s ability to fulfil its mandate. For journalists and external collaborators, the reported months-long non-payment undermines basic labour rights and creates acute financial insecurity, especially troubling inside a taxpayer-funded public broadcaster. For RTSH itself, unfulfilled contractual obligations and reduced original programming risk damaging credibility, weakening its capacity to serve audiences, and eroding trust further.

In parallel, journalists have reported on additional restructuring measures at RTSH. On September 4, three channels (RTSH 3, RTSH Plus, and RTSH Agro) were removed from terrestrial and satellite platforms following Steering Council Decision No. 13, dated March 28, 2023. While this decision was cited in RTSH’s internal notice to staff, it has not been made publicly available. The Programming Unit informed staff that work would be reorganized as a result of the closures. Civil society has also sought clarity: SCiDEV submitted a freedom of information request to RTSH asking for access to the Council’s decision, the factual and legal reasoning behind it, details on staff reorganization, notification to the Audiovisual Media Authority, and plans for the continuation of programming. The absence of published documentation or public explanation further highlights concerns about transparency and due process at RTSH during a time of institutional crisis.

The context is difficult and complex; the newly appointed Steering Council and the Director have publicly pledged greater transparency and reform, including at the 9 July 2025 roundtable, where the General Director outlined objectives for a restructured programming model tailored to audience needs, digital integration, and stronger governance prioritizing accountability and inclusiveness. These pledges are welcome. Yet, as reported in the media, persistent silence toward staff and the public about arrears and timelines raises concerns about whether due process and existing oversight mechanisms are functioning effectively.

To demonstrate a credible path toward reform, RTSH should act quickly on measures feasible even under financial strain. These include publishing a clear, time-bound plan to settle arrears, with staged deadlines and responsible units, and establishing a formal communication channel for collaborators and staff. RTSH should also publish, within legal limits, a summary of audit findings and the corrective measures being undertaken, including procurement reforms, contract controls, and safeguards for due process in staffing and programming. Given the closure of RTSH 3, RTSH Plus, and RTSH Agro, RTSH should clarify the legal grounds for these changes, how affected staff will be treated, and whether and how programming will continue. Importantly, any restructuring, reform, or strategic programming decisions by the new leadership should not be taken unilaterally but through transparent consultation with stakeholders, consistent with RTSH’s own pledges of inclusiveness and accountability.

At the same time, RTSH must cooperate fully with oversight bodies. The Steering Council should hold open sessions and publish its minutes; the Labour Inspectorate should verify wage and contract compliance with RTSH’s proactive support; and the Audiovisual Media Authority should assess continuity of public-service obligations and transparency standards. Taken together, these measures would signal a genuine commitment to reform, strengthen accountability, and help rebuild trust in RTSH as a public broadcaster. Also, the new parliament, within its oversight role, should follow developments at RTSH carefully and ensure that any allocation of public funds or reforms are accompanied by transparency, accountability, and respect for media workers’ rights.

Resolving the crisis at RTSH requires action not only from its leadership and oversight bodies but also from the wider ecosystem of accountability. The cases made public by Kozeta Kurti and Elsa Demo have also generated solidarity within Albania’s journalist community, reflecting that these are not isolated grievances but part of a broader concern over labour rights and professional dignity in public service media. Yet more unity and collective action will be needed to ensure that journalists’ rights are effectively protected and that RTSH fulfills its obligations toward those who contribute to its mission.

The newly appointed Director General of Albania’s public broadcaster, RTSH, Eni Vasili, has acknowledged that the institution is facing what she described as a “catastrophic situation of debts and obligations.” Speaking to BIRN, Vasili confirmed that numerous journalists and contributors remain unpaid for months, a crisis inherited from previous management.

“I thank all the journalists, authors, and moderators of March–June 2025 projects for their understanding regarding delays in RTSH payments,” Vasili said, noting that projects had been promised without secured funds. “This does not make the new management responsible, which has found itself in a catastrophic situation and is trying to do its best to manage it,” she added.

Vasili explained that the broadcaster is currently prioritizing payments, especially to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), warning that failure to settle overdue obligations dating back to January 2024 could jeopardize RTSH’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest and risk the loss of key broadcasting rights. “It would also face international courts for non-payment of contracts with foreigners,” she warned.

The RTSH Board is expected to soon review the company’s internal debts, while the finance department is preparing decisions on next steps. Vasili took over as head of the broadcaster in April 2025, following a period of turmoil under her predecessor, Alfred Peza, whose abrupt dismissal of around 150 employees left RTSH mired in lawsuits and deep financial strain.