This newspaper prides itself in having brought you, our readers, faithful and up-to-date coverage of the Libyan crisis.

We brought you coverage of the events in Libya, as best we could, given the circumstances. Every instance, every lead and every rumour was corroborated – or refuted – by government and army officials and/or sources close to the authorities. That is the way journalism works, or should work.

We were the first to bring you the story about how the Libyan pilots defected and we were the first to bring you the story, in today’s edition, of the pilots being released and how they are being treated in accordance with Maltese law. Each and every fact we brought you was meticulously researched, verified and investigated. We pledge to continue to do so.

Yesterday evening, this newspaper heard the same rumour which was circulating about a Libyan ship – not warship – being in Maltese territorial waters. We spoke to the AFM and the rumour was immediately refuted.

Throughout the night, the story was repeated over and over again, and the spin actually increased to the point that by the early hours of the morning, the ghost-ship had become two Libyan warships that had defected to Malta and berthed in the Grand Harbour.

At 4am, this newspaper, although long put to bed, again spoke to the Army and the Government. The editor was worried: could Malta be dragged further into the crisis? Had we missed something? Were Al Jazeera and its local stringer and reporter right, after all?

The answer is a categorical no. In the early hours of the morning, we were told by exasperated and frustrated officials that the reports were false, fabricated and pure fantasy. The editor eventually went to bed.

On waking, the television was still tuned to Al Jazeera and still the same story was repeated. Let us be open and honest, the channel has given a valuable insight into the Arab way of doing things and it has carried some brilliant analysis and eyewitness accounts. But to think that local stringers irresponsibly, irrationally and downright foolhardily exposed Malta to the risks that they did in saying that two warships had defected when Malta denied it repeatedly all night and all day beggars belief.

Is this what the profession of journalism has descended to? Sadly, it seems that it was spinning a story for the sake of exposure and gaining a few short-sighted readers. This is a matter of global importance. It is a matter of national security. This newspaper has always spoken its mind, but has always been measured. We do not fire from the hip. The older generation of cigar-smoking, whisky-sipping journalists who willingly sit at their desk hours after their shift is over has gone. Now we have young Turks who will blow any rumour (or fantasy) out of all proportion for personal gain, or for the sake of sensationalism. What has happened to sense of duty and responsibility? The press is not a comic book – it is a serious profession. This is not about politics, colour or creed. It is about Malta’s international reputation and national security. It is enough to make you lie down and weep.