According to an analysis by BIRN - Balkan Investigative Reporting Network - Albania is proving fertile ground for conspiracy theories and false news about the coronavirus pandemic, which often drown out the mainstream media. The analysis entitled "Fake News rivals the real news for Albanians reading about Covid-19" was elaborated by Besar Likmeta , who has been serving as editor for Albania at BIRN since 2007, who has won the CEI / SEEMO Award for Merit. Outstanding in Investigative Journalism in 2009 and ranked second at the Global Shining Light Award at the Global Conference of Investigative Journalism in Geneva.
Offending. Balkan Insigh focuses on news, analysis, commentary and investigative reporting on Southeast Europe and functions as a network of non-governmental organizations promoting freedom of speech and human rights.
In his analysis, Likmeta states that BuzzSumo was used, a UK-based analytical research tool to identify articles related to Covid-19 written by Albanian media between January and October this year.
During the monitored period, the Albanian media distributed about 149,543 articles on Covid-19 on Facebook, causing about 4.89 million engagements, including clicks, likes and other reactions. The top 20 articles generated 93,711 responses or shares, but a news item published by GazetaKorrekte.com, he says, received about 8,602 responses. This news quotes the statements of the Italian pharmacist Stefano Montanari who considered the virus as a common flu. The YouTube channel, Byoblu, where he gave the statement has also been accused of disseminating false information.
The BIRN analysis also mentions an Opinion.al article about Rashid Buttar, described as a biology and theology graduate from the University of Washington and an alternative medicine practitioner, claiming that the coronavirus was actually created by The US article had a total of 3,378 Facebook engagements, including 602 shares and 567 comments. Likmeta points out that the article did not mention the fact that Buttar is a person known for conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine campaigns.
Offending. The article regarding his statements was also published on Anabel.al. As you can read by clicking here , the article mentions that Buttar "has been discredited several times for unethical treatment of patients" and has gained notoriety in the media as a conspiracy media "with a rich history of inaccurate and discredited reporting."
Ndër të tjera, Likmeta thekson se hulumtimet po sugjerojnë se Shqipëria përfaqëson një terren pjellor për teoritë konspirative. Sipas një studimi të botuar Institute for Development Research and Alternatives, IDRA, 70% e të anketuarve thanë se besonin se Covid-19 u krijua në një laborator në Kinë. Rreth 65% shprehën besimin se virusi u krijua nga njerëz me pushtet ose nga kompani farmaceutike për para dhe pushtet. Një e treta e të anketuarve thanë se besonin në teorinë se rrjetet 5G kishin një rol në përhapjen e shpejtë të virusit, ndërsa 29% thanë se vaksinat kundër virusit do të përdoren për të instaluar mikroçipa për të ndjekur njerëzit.
Shtojmë këtu edhe vëmendjen që mediat u japin njerëzve që shpërndajnë teori konspirative, si përshembull Alfred Cako, i cili ftohet vazhdimisht në emisione si "Shqipëria Live" dhe është çdo javë në "Rrethi katror" në "E diell", Top Channel.
Përpos teorive të përhapura nga burime të huaja, Likmeta përmend edhe ato me origjinë vendase. Ai përmend rastin e Sazan Gurit, i cili gjatë periudhës së karantinës shkroi në Facebook se agjencitë funerale po ofronin shërbime funerale falas madje edhe para në rast se familjet binin dakord që t’i regjistronin të afërmit e tyre të ndjerë si “njerëz që ndërruan jetë nga Covid-19”. Një artikull i botuar në portalin online të Fax TV vetëm mbi pretendimet e Gurit mori 2,300 engagements në Facebook, përfshirë 242 shpërndarje dhe 400 komente.
Read the full Likmeta analysis here .
