Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1088108
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 MARCH 2019 KARL AZZOPARDI THE downward trend for print newspaper circulation may not come as a surprise to many, but the problems of the fourth estate have been placed in a sharp light by the Cairncross Review, a report that sets out ways of sustaining the future of journalism as the Internet carves away at its dominance. Institutions, people and com- munities have all experienced the wave of change brought by the internet, but few are yet to experience the repercussions felt by the journalism industry. "The ways in which news is provided and the ways people find and read it are changing more rapidly and radically than ever before," the report, commissioned by the British government, said. Casting its eye over the state of the news media market, the review mapped out the fi- nancial sustainability of pub- lishers, the impact of search engines and social media platforms on journalism, and the role of digital advertis- ing. Some key findings from the study shows that what is most at stake in journalism is investigative and democracy- reporting journalism. "To be truly effective, investigative journalism needs wide dis- semination. The online world provides that in spades, and in time will do so even better. However, investigative jour- nalism needs something else that, for the moment, even the best specialist investigative bodies cannot match: scale and resource." The report also said that de- spite multiple mediums for news in radio and television, written journalism in print and online still supplies most of original journalism, and yet is mostly at risk. "People may search directly for news online, but increasingly news appears in social feeds and search results alongside – and effectively in direct competi- tion for attention with – other online content, including gos- sip, gaming and family news." Additionally, the onslaught of Google and Facebook has turned them into the main channels of accessing news – 53% of UK adults now say they are worried about being exposed to fake news on so- cial media and 24% of the UK population don't know how to verify sources of information found online. Such findings reflect a recent Eurobarometer survey con- ducted in Malta, where results showed that more than half of Maltese people trusted the government, with only one fourth of the population trust- ing the press. The Cairncross review pro- posed new codes of conduct to rebalance the relationship between publishers and on- line platforms, with the for- mer becoming more and more dependent on the latter for referral traffic. "Online adver- tising revenue has not grown nearly as fast as publishers had hoped, nor come close to com- pensating them for the decline in print revenue." It also proposed new form of tax reliefs by encouraging pay- ments for online news content, and the facilitation of local and investigative journalism. "The present arrangement actively discourages publishers from developing online payment mechanisms." Even the owners and editors of Malta's most influential English-language newspapers agree that the state of Mal- tese journalism depends on some form of intervention that keeps democracy-journalism alive. MaltaToday managing editor and owner Saviour Balzan re- cently weighed in on the del- eterious impact of Facebook has had on Maltese newspa- pers, and said the country's leaders had to support inter- vention instead of just paying lip service to the freedom of the press. "It can only be guar- anteed by direct government intervention through finan- cial and legal reforms that can aid the newspaper industry," Balzan wrote in his Sunday column. Even the Times of Malta on- line editor, Herman Grech, wrote on the Cairncross Re- view. "One or more of your favourite Maltese media hous- es/newspapers/websites will cease to exist in the next five years," Grech starkly warned. "Journalists are a dying breed." Grech said action had to be taken to make media houses more economically sustain- able. "Almost all media or- ganisations need to take a good look at themselves and see how they can remain rel- evant and financially viable," he said, warning of the danger of having a country without a free press. "The day news out- lets cannot afford to employ investigative journalists will be the day corrupt and inept public officials sleep a good deal sounder at night." The Malta Independent's Editor-in-Chief Rachel Attard, said the Cairncross findings were easily applicable to the Maltese situation. "I believe that the problem can be large- ly attributed to the fact that young people are not attracted to the journalism profession… salaries in the industry are not high, and so young people are opting to find careers with higher-paying salaries." But Attard mentioned the public's attitude towards jour- nalists. "The mentality of not paying for online content has to stop. Behind that article, there are hours of research, hard work and man power, and so the mentality of get- ting everything for free has to stop," Attard said, who agrees with government interven- tion. "If the government wants to protect the fourth pillar of democracy, it must help news- rooms. If we attack the media, we are attacking our own free- dom," she said. kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt NEWS Jobsplus permit no 219/2018 Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd (MATS), the Air Navigation Service Provider for Malta, invites applications from interested individuals to fill the post of Air Traffic Control Officer Trainees with the Company. Academic Qualifications Applications will be considered from individuals who satisfy the following minimum academic qualifications: • A Matriculation certificate awarded of grade C or higher, or, • 2 A levels and 4 intermediates at grade C or higher, or, • A Higher National Diploma (MQF 5) awarded. Age For licensing purposes, applicants for the post of ATCO must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. Assessment test Applicants who fulfill the academic criteria must attend for an assessment test. This test will be based on the First European ATCO Selection Test (FEAST). Candidates sitting for this assessment will be deemed successful if they obtain an average stanine level 5 or higher and grades of not lower than 4 in any one test. "Candidates who fail FEAST are allowed to re-apply for the position of Air Traffic Control Officer Trainee and retry the FEAST test only after the lapse of (24) twenty-four months from the date that they have done the initial test. Applicants who apply before the lapse of (24) twenty-four months will not be considered." Language proficiency Applicants must attain at least a level 4 in Maltese and English language proficiency as dictated by CAD –TM (the regulator) leading to the qualification of ATCO 1 Medical Fitness Applicants must be medically fit in accordance with regulatory requirements for duty as air traffic controller (Medical Class 3). Medical examinations will be carried out by a medical officer who is duly qualified to certify air traffic controllers. The result of the medical examination conducted by the said medical officer will be final. Interview Successful candidates will proceed for an interview with an interviewing board of selection appointed by the Company. Candidates must succeed in every part of this selection process as any part is considered as a pass/fail module, Probation and Training Applicants who are selected will be engaged by MATS on a definite contract of 15 months during which they will be required to attend and successfully complete the BASIC course and the Rating course. Both courses may be held in Malta or abroad at a training institution selected by MATS. Candidates who quit any one of the courses will be liable to pay MATS the costs incurred for the course. On successful completion of the Basic and Rating course, candidates will undergo a period of on-the-job training, followed by a Competency Check for the issue of an Air Traffic Control Officer license. Candidates who are successful in all the phases mentioned above including the Competency Check, will be awarded an indefinite contract and promoted to an Air Traffic Control Officer. Those satisfying the experience and qualification criteria, and who are interested in filling these posts, are to send a motivational letter with their updated curriculum vitae (in pdf format) via email to our H.R. section on vacancies@maltats.com by not later than Friday the 15 th of March 2019. Interested parties are invited to visit our careers section on http://maltats.com for a more detailed description of this vacancy. Editors sound warning over future of the press MaltaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan, Times online editor Herman Grech, and Malta Independent editor-in-chief Rachel Attard