Dita
The daily newspaper Dita started publication at the end of 2012. The daily illustrates always its front-page article, which is most of the times an editorial or op-ed, with a cartoon. The newspaper is left-wing and some time is perceived as defending some aspects of the communist regime in Albania. Dita is founded mainly from advertising of lotteries.
The newspaper is considered left wing and supports the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, although in some cases has been critical toward its former minister of interior Saimir Tahiri and other ex-ministers of the center-left government.
Audience Share
1.80%
Ownership Type
Private
Geographic Coverage
National
Content Type
Paid content
Media Companies / Groups
Publikime Shqiptare LLC
Ownership Structure
The daily newspaper Dita is owned by the company Publikime Shqiptare LLC, which is owned by Besnik Dabulla, Alban Dabulla, Adrian Thano, Besnik Rama, Entela Osoja and Kristian Osoja.
Voting Rights
All share holders have the right to vote according to their shares
Individual Owner
Group / Individual Owner
Adrian Thano
Adrian Thano – is the editor in chief of the newspaper Dita and a shareholder with 10% of the shares in the company. He has long career in the Albania press and is a former director of information at Vizion Plus TV. Thano spent the biggest part of his career at the daily Shekullli as editor in chief and director. Based on his editorials/comments published in the newspaper, he is perceived as a left-wing journalist. Thano is a shareholder at the company Universiteti Dita, together with the Dabulla Brothers, which operates in the education field. He is also at the same time the head of the Agency for Support of Civil Society, AMSHC, which has faced often accusations of corruption and nepotism.
Besnik Rama
Besnik Rama joined the list of shareholders later and owns 10% of the shares. There is no information about the owners affiliated interests.
Children of Ardian Osoja
The children of Ardian Osoja inherited the 5% shares from their late father. They are underage.
General Information
Founding Year
2012
Affiliated Interests Founder
Publikime Shqiptare – the daily newspaper Dita is published by the company Publikime Shqiptare LLC, first registered under the ownership of Elis Sulaj, an employee of Dabulla brothers, who later sold his shares to the brothers, Alban and Besnik Dabulla, who bought 85% of the shares in the company. The editor in chief of the newspaper Adrian Thano, controls 10%, while the late Ardian Osoja’s children had 5%. After Osoja’s death his shares went to his children, while Alban Dabulla sold 10% of his shares to Besnik Rama.
The Dabulla brothers control 75% of the shares of the company. They are the sons of former Socialist MP Arta Dade. The two brothers have been accused several times by former right-wing Prime Minister Sali Berisha of being part of organized crime, a charge that they have denied as politically motivated. Berisha has declared in parliament that they have been part of a criminal gang called “Revenge for Justice’, which has been on trial for almost two decades in Albania’s courts. The accusation has been rejected by the two brothers who have responded to Berisha in kind. The newspaper Dita is famous for its first page carton, where Berisha features often and is accused of corruption and crimes during his tenure has head of state.
Alban Dubulla, the businessman that owns the majority of the shares in the newspaper, is in the gambling business. He is 40 per cent shareholder in the company Nacional Sh.a, which organizes the ‘Telebingo Shqiptare’ lottery game and 70% owner in the sports betting company Eurolive. Dabulla has also shares in the companies Celere, AB OVOV, Vapeks and Universiteti Dita.
Besnik Dabulla has fewer businesses than his brother. Apart from the 40 per cent of the shares in the company Publikime Shqiptare LLC, he owns a fast-food restaurant. Other companies in trade, services and advertising where he had shares have been suspended.
Adrian Thano, is the editor in chief of the newspaper Dita and a shareholder with 10% of the shares in the company. He has previously worked as editor in chief and director of the newspaper Shekulli. Like the Dabulla brothers he is perceived as leaning left of the political spectrum. Thano is a shareholder at the company Universiteti Dita LLC, which operates in the education sector.
Ardian Osoja – passed away prematurely due to health problems, had been previously engaged in the management of several daily newspapers.
Affiliated Interests Ceo
Elis Sulaj – is the CEO of the company. He registered the company at the Albanian National Business Registry and later sold his shares for 100,000 Lek (840 Euro) to Ardian Osoja, Besnik Dabulla, Alban Dabulla and Adrian Thano, one year after the registration of the company. Sulaj appears to be an employee of the company Nacional Sh.a, where Alban Dabulla holds 40% of the shares. He is also 66% owner of the company Ashley World Group, which is also linked with Alban Dabulla.
Affiliated Interests Editor-In-Chief
Adrian Thano – is the editor in chief of the newspaper Dita and a shareholder with 10% of the shares in the company. He has long career in the Albania press and is a former director of information at Vizion Plus TV. Thano spent the biggest part of his career at the daily Shekullli as editor in chief and director. Based on his editorials/comments published in the newspaper, he is perceived as a left-wing journalist. Thano is a shareholder at the company Universiteti Dita, together with the Dabulla Brothers, which operates in the education field. He is also at the same time the head of the Agency for Support of Civil Society, AMSHC, which has faced often accusations of corruption and nepotism.
Affiliated Interests other important people
Bedri Islami, Viktor Malaj, Mojkom Zeqo, Arben Duka – the four of them create a 'writers’ collegium' of the outlet, which calls itself an info-analytical newspaper.
Bedri Islami – is a former journalist with the daily Zeri i Popullit (Voice of the People), the publication of Albania’s Workers Party during the communist regime. He is also known as one of the leaders of Kosovo’s Popular Front, a leftist political organization, which was the political arm of the Kosovo Liberation Army in the diaspora and the base for the later Kosovo Democratic Party. Islami has been named lately as an adviser by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci. Islami is known for his critical stances of former right-wing Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
Viktor Malaj – No biographical data were found on Viktor Malaj, apart from his frequent headlines in the newspaper Dita.
Moikom Zeqo - is a historian and a former director of the National Museum, who has published several books.
Arben Duka - is a satirist and song writer. He is known for being critical of right-wing politicians and former Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
Contact
Rruga Donika Kastrioti, Vila 9/1, Kati 1, mbrapa Kullave Binjake, Tirana
Tel: +355 672078182
Website: www.gazetadita.al
Financial Information
Revenue (in Mill. $)
0.3 Mio. $ / 39 Mio. Lek
Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
0.07 Mio. $ / 9.2 Mio. Lek
Advertising (in % of total funding)
Missing Data
Market Share
6.6
Further Information
Meta Data
The structure of ownership and the financial statements are publically available at the National Business Center. The latest financial data available belong to 2016. To covert the financial data in USD, the Bank of Albania’s average exchange rate for 2016 was used. For the purpose of evaluating weight of assets and revenues of this company in the print media market, MOM have calculated the value of assets, revenues and profits of 11 Print Media Companies. The companies/outlets included in the calculation are as follows: Panorama, Gazeta Shqiptare, Koha Jone, Mapo, Shekulli, Tema, Dita, Shqiptarja.com, Standard, Sot News and Monitor.
