The leader of the Socialist Party (SP) group, Taulant Balla, has been involved in a remote exchange with BIRN journalist and economics expert Gjergj Erebara. The reason was an ironic post that the journalist posted on his private Facebook account.
Journalist Erebara posted an AI-modified photo, which mocked Balla's name and the drone photos that the latter posted to attack the protest of citizens demanding the resignation of Edi Rama.
"Urgently gather 30 patronage workers to make P-B. Drug traffickers from Elbasan are also accepted. This photo is an artistic creation and does not reflect a real post," Erebara writes.
After this post, the leader of the SP Group attacked not only the journalist, but also BIRN. Balla demanded accountability from the embassies and the donor Soros, who, through the Open Society Foundation, provides funds to this media.
"This 'forger' is an editor/collaborator of BIRN Albania, an organization that deals with investigative journalism as well as journalist training and projects to strengthen transparency and accountability. Come on, mission, come on. Come on, investigative journalism, come on. SHAME!
The organization is funded by international donors, including European Union programs, embassies, foundations, and international organizations, according to the projects it implements. It even states that its mission is to promote quality journalism, transparency, accountability, and democratic values.
"I have a question for these donors: the Open Society Foundation in Albania (OSFA), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the embassies of several countries (I am not mentioning them here because I will address them directly), is this in the photo the quality, transparent journalism that you have funded? Do you think that in your countries it can be allowed for the editor of a media outlet funded with public money to falsify and insult to this level?" Balla writes.
