Wrote: Etrit Rexhepi
An article titled "Reuters: Kurti's victory risks a repeat of the year-long crisis in Kosovo".
content It was published with this title on Monday (December 22) on the medium "klankosova.tv".
What's wrong with the content?
Hibrid.info noted that the Reuters report was given a title that suggests direct responsibility of the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, for the crisis in the country, although the original article presents concerns expressed by analysts and political actors, and not an editorial position of Reuters.
The article with the same title has been published in several Albanian-language media outlets such as: "atvlive.tv","epokaere.com","gazetainfokus.com","periscope.com","gazeta10.com","arberia.tv","democracy.com","alsat.mk”And“top24.mk".
These contents have reported on an article published in the international news agency "Reuters", entitled "Kosovo heads to polls as political deadlock threatens vital funds", in Albanian: "Kosovo heads for elections as political blockade endangers vital funds" (see here).
At the beginning of the Reuters article, in summary, five points are listed:
- The elections are being held after a year-long political stalemate in Europe's newest state.
- The electorate is tired of parliament's inability to function.
- World Bank and European Union loans at risk if not ratified by lawmakers.
- Prime Minister Kurti expresses optimism despite the political deadlock and criticism from the opposition.
- EU sanctions were lifted after the inauguration of Serbian local mayors.
However, in the content in the Albanian-language media, where the Reuters article was reported, only the first part of the international media text was included (see here). This piece of news highlights the concern that the election results could repeat the political and economic crisis, four months before the election of a new president and on the eve of the deadlines for the ratification of international loans, including statements by political analyst, Artan Muhaxhiri.
In one of the statements, which was accurately quoted even within the Albanian language media content, Muhaxhiri said: "If Kurti wins again with around 42%, this entire deadlock will repeat itself, because the gap between Kurti and the other parties is large and insurmountable. (see here).”
This shows that the analyst focuses on the risk of a repeat of the results of the February 9 elections, in which LVV received the largest percentage of votes, which was less than 50%. According to Muhaxhir, with a similar victory, a blockade like this year could occur again.
Hibrid.info checked the rest of the Reuters article, which is not included in the Albanian language content, but found no claim from either the authors of the article or the other quoted individuals that "Kurti's possible victory in the elections risks a repeat of the year-long crisis."
What this means is that although this is not confirmed in either the title or the content of the international agency's reporting, the title "Reuters: Kurti's victory risks a repeat of the year-long crisis in Kosovo"It gives the impression that "Reuters" in its article holds the potential victory of LVV responsible for the recurrence of the crisis in the country.
Analyze:
Reporting by several Albanian-language media outlets on a Reuters article titled “Reuters: Kurti's victory risks a repeat of the year-long crisis in Kosovo has focused on analyst Artan Muhaxhiri's warning about the risk of a repeat of the political blockade of February 9, in the event of the same results.
However, this headline used by these media outlets gives the impression that "Reuters" links the recurrence of the year-long crisis to Kurti's possible victory in the elections, which was not specifically stated by Muhaxhiri, nor in the headline or original content of the international agency.
Therefore, based on its working methodology, hibrid.info evaluates the content as "Clickbait".
Reasoning:
“Clickbait” is considered to be informational content whose title is general and does not disclose the location of the event, context and relevance. Such texts and articles aim to attract the attention of the audience with sensational headlines with misleading consequences, which do not accurately clarify the content of the article. “Clickbait” headlines are mainly made to attract readability in the case of media publications and/or to earn from clicks in the case of commercial publications.