TIRANA, May 7/ATA/ “ATA: A journey through the history of Albanian news" opens this weekend, May 9, featuring a unique joint photographic and documentary exhibition of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) in collaboration with the General Directorate of Archives (DPA).
Hosted within the historical walls of Tirana Castle, this exhibition invites the public on a visual journey from the inaugural 1920s transmission halls to modern digital technologies. It masterfully highlights the profound connection between technological evolution and the social and political shifts that have shaped Albania.
This is journey that beautifully reflects an Albania in transition: deeply historic, yet enthusiastically open to the world.
Archival materials highlight ATA’s central role in documenting and spreading information, tracking the evolution of news as both a professional practice and a vital link between the state, media, and the public.
Photojournalists are the ultimate witnesses of their time. Their work and archival records demonstrate Albania’s early 20th-century connection to global information networks.
The establishment and consolidation of ATA holds a unique place in history as the nation's central hub for news production and dissemination. Pioneering figures, most notably the first director Mihal Sherko, spearheaded efforts to build an organized information system that connected Albania to international developments.
The exhibition highlights the 1990s as a pivotal transition for Albanian media, marked by the arrival of pluralism, the birth of new publications and a radical shift in news production and distribution.
As a full member of premier alliances—including ENR, EANA, AMAN, and ABNA-SE—ATA partners with over 35 international agencies like AFP, ANSA, DPA, and EFE to deliver comprehensive daily regional and global coverage.
ATA is currently digitizing and cataloging its extensive archive of over 300,000 historic images and negatives (1913–present). This, along with thousands of bulletins dating back to 1945, ensures the preservation of this invaluable national photographic heritage.
Opening at 11:00 AM at Tirana Castle on Europe Day, this exhibition explores the history of Albanian media through the lens of public information and communication values. The exhibition will remain open to the public for several days. /p.s./
