VOA’s Albanian service is bringing its audience in the Western Balkans unbiased, objective, and comprehensive news. Successfully employing a cross-platform content strategy, the service informs, engages, and connects its audience in Albania, Kosovo and Albanian-speaking areas of North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro. VOA’s Albanian service serves as a de facto “Washington Bureau” for its affiliate stations, explaining U.S. foreign policy objectives, in a region still vulnerable to internal and external destabilizing forces. The media in the target area are still subject to control and influence by the government, political parties, and powerful business interests. Journalists regularly practice self-censorship to suit the economic interests of media owners, and reporting is especially vulnerable to editorial pressure. In this politicized media market, VOA Albanian continues to be a trusted and authoritative source of news and information. The service focuses its coverage on democratic reforms, ethnic reconciliation and regional cooperation, the importance of the rule of law, and the fight against corruption and organized crime. The service’s programming is widely disseminated by local media on TV and on the web.

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