Advocacy and activism have become prevalent in the commercial media, particularly following the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, as well as Covid-19 economic impacts on the media sector, a case study on Malta’s media system has found.

“Journalists ‘need to become activists, even if they risk losing certain readers,’” an editor who took part in the study said.

The study, titled ‘Malta’s Media System from the Perspective of Journalists and Editors; A Case Study Applying Hallin and Mancini’s (2004) Theoretical Framework,’ is authored by Fr Joseph Borg, Norman Vella and Mary Anne Lauri. It looked into the opinions of Maltese journalists and editors about the Maltese media system.

It was conducted at a time when the media system was challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic, and following the shock from the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The study focused on what Maltese journalists and editors think on political parties and the church’s ownership of different media outlets, government using advertising to influence media content, and if journalists should be members of a political party.

Opinions on whether or not journalists should be active in advocacy groups and civil society, if they are influenced by the political and commercial interests of their organisation, and if the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is biased in favour of government also came out in the study.

It used a mixed method approach, including quantitative data, whereby an online questionnaire was sent to journalists and editors, and a qualitative method, where senior editors were interviewed.

There were 108 participants who responded to the online questionnaire, and eight participants were interviewed, all of whom occupied senior editorial positions.

The interviewees worked for commercial news organisations, political newspapers, the Catholic Church media, PBS, editorially active owners as well as the (then) President of the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM).

While news reports should remain factual, and separated from opinions, most journalists and editors agreed that journalists should participate in advocacy, which has in fact increased following the murder of Caruana Galizia, the study found.

With regards to autonomy in their work, the study found that editors working for commercial entities felt they enjoyed a higher degree of autonomy, with one claiming that proper journalism cannot be done in political media, as there is little autonomy.

The study posed the possible explanation that journalists working for political media felt autonomous because they themselves wanted to push forth their party’s message.

Editors believed that there is little esprit de corps between media houses and individual journalists. They continued that this results from mutual mistrust among journalists, competition for stories, sources and audiences, and their loyalty to different political parties.

The study explained how this is mostly evident when political media create campaigns to discredit other news organisations, or journalists, who would have published “embarrassing” stories about the rival party.

“Having journalists publicly discrediting other journalists is a negative characteristic of Malta’s media system,” the authors said, suggesting a call for regulation of journalism, if self-regulation remains ineffective.

Most editors participating in the study said that they considered the regulator (Broadcasting Authority) responsible for ensuring factual reporting, as “a pawn in the hands of the major political leaders”, since it is the leaders of these parties who appointed members on the regulator’s board.

Respondents from all media organisations believed that the current media laws did not adequately protect the media’s independence and freedom of expression.

While criminal libel was abolished, and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was introduced, many editors pointed out the inefficiency of FOI requests, which take months to be replied to.

Editors participating in the study also complained that the Maltese government failed to protect media organisations against SLAPP actions (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), which could financially ruin news organisations in Malta.

The study explained that in a small media market such as Malta’s, the role of the State has a bigger impact on the media system.

This, however, is a threat to the country’s democracy, when having a situation where the main television stations are owned and run by government, and by the main political parties. This threatens the function of PBS as an impartial and balanced broadcaster.

87% of questionnaire participants supported the idea that the Catholic Church owns a radio station and a news portal (89.8%).

82.4% supported political parties owning an online news portals, radio stations (70.4%), newspapers (75%) and television stations (61%), the study showed.

One editor said that political parties, especially the Opposition, need their own television station to achieve balance, as government has the advantage through its control of PBS.

Another editor had opposing views, saying that the “country’s problems” are due to the large costs needed to run political television stations, making the party dependent on donations from businesses.

The authors of the study concluded that “journalists and editors perceive media ownership by political parties as an instrument that fuels partisanship and polarisation in society and that undermines public trust in the journalistic profession.”

Advocacy in journalism of commercial media borders on civic activism, whilst that of political media often borders on propaganda, the study found.

The study also finds government as trying to influence media by giving or withholding access of information. The perception of journalists and editors on the governance of the broadcasting regulator, and the running of PBS, is that it is politicised.

The study also found that Malta’s media system is moving towards a more liberal one, due to the increase in advocacy and activism of commercial media, following Caruana Galizia’s murder.

Through their perspectives, the study showed that Maltese journalists and editors are aware that their important role is overshadowed by politics, with the worry that the future of the Maltese media system could be dependent on political decisions.

The study also suggested that the political field can contribute to the transition of the system to bring about change in who makes up the broadcasting regulator, and freeing the state broadcaster, PBS from political influence.

The system could undergo further radical changes should this happen, which could lead to more journalistic professionalism, and a probable strengthening of commercial media, the study found.