Albanian Woman in Audiovisual
Founded in September 2024, the Network of Women in Media – Albania (NWM-A) is a joint initiative of Albanian Women in Audiovisual (AWA), Lajmëtarja, and SCiDEV. The Network was established to strengthen and promote the role of women in the Albanian media and audiovisual sector by bringing together journalists, editors, producers, directors, and other media professionals. Through a collaborative platform for networking, peer support, and collective action, the Network seeks to advance gender equality and contribute to improved working conditions across the media sector.
Building on the foundations laid during the first phase of the Breaking the Moulds, Shaping the Future project—including the creation of a national database of women media professionals and a nationwide needs assessment—the Network evolved into a structured professional platform that continues to connect women working across Albania.
To facilitate continuous communication and collaboration, AWA established a dedicated online registration platform, a WhatsApp community, and dedicated Facebook and Instagram pages, enabling women journalists and audiovisual professionals from different regions of the country to exchange experiences, opportunities, and professional support.
As the Network continued to expand, AWA introduced an additional survey between May and June 2025 to better understand the realities faced by women working in the media and audiovisual sector. Although not originally foreseen in the project, the survey was launched in response to the growing engagement of Network members and gathered responses from 49 women journalists and audiovisual professionals from Tirana, Durrës, Gjirokastër, Pogradec, Shkodër, Korçë, and Elbasan.
The findings highlighted persistent challenges, including non-compliance with employment contracts, excessive working hours, workplace pressure, and concerns related to professional safety and work-life balance. These results formed the basis of the first networking meeting of the Network of Women in Media, held at Europe House in Tirana, where around 50 women journalists and audiovisual professionals discussed the findings, shared personal experiences, identified common challenges, and explored collective solutions to improve the working environment for women in the sector.
The Network continued to grow steadily throughout the project. By the end of the Action on 15 July 2026, it had reached 174 members, significantly surpassing the initial target of 100 members. Today, it brings together women journalists and audiovisual professionals from Tirana, Shkodër, Durrës, Gjirokastër, Elbasan, Berat, Vlorë, Lezhë, Korçë, and Dibër, strengthening professional solidarity, fostering collaboration across regions, and creating opportunities for mentorship, advocacy, and knowledge sharing.
More than a professional network, NWM-A has become a platform that empowers women in media to build meaningful professional connections, amplify one another’s voices, and collectively contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and gender-sensitive media landscape in Albania.