Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1199625
THE former Labour UK Prime Minister, Harold Wil- son, is attributed as having once said that 'a week is a long time in politics' – so very true if one just considers what has happened since a week ago in Malta's political scene. But today, we are not recall- ing what has happened in this long week, but celebrating MaltaToday's twenty years in journalism. And if that is not a long time, I don't know what it is. Personally I find that MaltaToday is a paper that provokes reaction – every- body either hates it or loves it – just like 'marmite' an Englishman would probably say. It is no bland experience without strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting: it is vibrant and strong and impacts on one's emotions willy-nilly. Much like Saviour Balzan himself, I am sure many would be tempted to say. The problem with MaltaTo- day is that it cannot be put in a box, as we Maltese keep on doing whenever we see or ex- perience anyone or anything. MaltaToday does not fit in the pro-labour 'Viva Joseph' box... nor does it fit in any of the anti-Labour boxes that seem to be continually fight- ing against each other. Yet many people contrive to fit it in one of the precon- ceived narrow – and narrow- minded – pigeonholes that make up the Maltese coop. They say it is "anti-this politi- cal party" or even waging war against personalities rather than against ideas. This is far removed from the objec- tive truth. But objectivity is a very rare condition in Malta, where you have to agree or disagree with everything one side says; where expressing disagreement with a decision or an opinion floated by the party one is normally associ- ated with makes you auto- matically a turncoat. Anyone who does not automatically agree with everything our side says is automatically an enemy. Going through the cartoons published in the commemo- rative book being launched today on the occasion of MaltaToday's twentieth anni- versary, helps one to under- stand better that MaltaToday always came strong on the issues it believed in, and it did so irrespective of the side it is perceived to be militating for in the country's interminable tribal political set-up. Its stand for EU member- ship and its stand against bird shooting – as is its stand against corruption whether during a Nationalist or a Labour administration – is surely a stand that cannot be contested. MaltaToday holds strong views and opinions on several issues. Besides its stand on corruption and good govern- ance, one cannot forget to refer to its stand on green issues and insensitive devel- opment. MaltaToday, as everybody knows, continually faces an interesting collection of self- appointed critics who assume that the paper acts at the behest of others in the politi- cal sphere and depict Saviour Balzan as being in the pocket of someone or other. Taking into consideration the paper's record over the last twenty years, this allegation – in my opinion – does not pass the test of time. I think the paper stuck its neck out when it mattered most, irespective of whose 'side' it was going to be perceived as pushing. It is a sign of our pitiful political tribalism that every story published by MaltaTo- day is judged not on its verac- ity but on which political side is getting an advantage or disadvantage from it. MaltaToday has never ceased in its attempt to break this mould. Unfortunately it has not yet succeeded to do so, although it has succeeded to attract the opprobrium of those who are only comfort- able with the 'them and us' scenario. IT was Julian Manduca, who first announced to me the im- minent birth of this newspaper. "Another English-language weekly, when globally newspa- pers were making a retreat?" Those were the thoughts that came to mind but I did not voice them because my scepti- cism cowered beneath Julian's enthusiasm and devotion for the project. My doubts were well-found- ed. By then global satellite television had already pre- vailed in the dissemination of international news. Moreover, with the advent of pluralism in Malta, television had become the main source of local news. Rival publications like The Times of Malta and the Malta Independent were clinching a good share of the advertising pie through bumper Sunday editions and their various glossy magazines. At the turn of the mil- lennium, we were on the threshold of Web 2.0 that facilitated internet interactivity and heralded infinite commu- nication options. MaltaToday's arrival coincided with the birth of Google and it was just five years old when Mark Zucker- berg launched Facebook. These two platforms now pose a mas- sive challenge to the survival of newspapers worldwide, both when it comes to the dis- semination of information and their absorption of advertising revenue. Together they control some 70 percent of the world's digital advertising market and as they "focus on engagement – when you click or share, you are increasing value to their advertisers" (Balzan, 2019). This new scenario has im- plications. Across the world, legacy news organizations are operating with shrinking numbers of journalists: glob- ally newsroom employment dropped nearly a quarter in less than 10 years (Grieco, 2018). On top of this, turnover in Maltese news organisations is a perennial reality. When ex- perienced journalists move on, news organisations face inex- perienced newbies, no matter how energetic and committed they are. While MaltaToday also benefits from new blood, one of its strongest assets is its leading experienced journalists, who have endured the test of time. On top of universal chal- lenges, Maltese journalists also face local idiosyncrasies. These include the prevalence of advocacy reporting, frequent attempts to politically instru- mentalise privately-owned media, the continuous politi- cization of broadcasting and regulatory frameworks, as well as limited autonomy and professionalism. All of these factors impinge on our media environment and its credibility to an extent that Eurobarometer surveys repeatedly convey people's scepticism towards our media system, which is among the highest in the whole of Europe. Before the outbreak of the cur- rent political malaise, the State, with its pack of coordinated state-funded communication officers registered higher trust levels than the media. If we were to carry out a headcount, these probably outnumber the number of journalists in any given organisation. And this is the backdrop in which the newspaper operates. Along the years MaltaToday evolved and adapted its reach to virtual readers but experi- ence has shown that online revenue does not compensate for losses from declining cir- culations. For many years now, MaltaToday shared the stable with its Maltese-language sister Illum. Both struggle to keep afloat, just like any other media organisation in Malta and overseas. Elsewhere commercial considerations fuelled the "clickbait culture", but overall this newspaper seems to have resisted the urge to take this regrettable plunge. It seems to be aware that clickbait may boost online traffic but they also widen the credibility gap, a euphemism for exaggerations, useless sensationalisation and lies that erode public trust. I value this newspaper's level of political and economic analysis; its research and com- mitment to good causes such as the environment and civil rights. Its cultural reportage is admirable. Its emphasis on hard politics and civil society action may allow less room for perspectives that emanate from the intersections of gender, disability, race and ethnicity that go beyond the interests and agendas of middle-aged, able-bodied, white men. Contemporary news work is also affected by the role of interactive readers who gener- ate added interest. Yet, social media trolling has exposed individuals to greater risks as some people seek to create dis- cord by posting inflammatory messages that often trend and go viral. All this has rendered the reputation of individuals extremely vulnerable and me- dia organisations became more open to opposition. Another reality of contempo- rary times is trivialised, skewed and sensational reportage typi- cal of the so-called post-truth era, which in turn helps breed populism. The Economist aptly observed: "Post-truth politics has many parents. Some are noble. The questioning of in- stitutions and received wisdom is a democratic virtue. So is the skeptical lack of deference towards leaders ... But democ- racies have institutions to help, too. It is independent legal systems that have mechanisms to establish truth." While the watchdog role of the media remains essential for democratic life, can we avoid dystopic interpretations where ALL politicians are portrayed as self-serving, malevolent, and corrupted by power? The audacity to hope is needed to keep people from retreating inward into the microcosm of their own private lives. And please be aware that collateral damage may destroy lives. It inhibits good people from public service. The fates of freedom of expression and democracy are intertwined. When democratic institutions are disparaged in the race for clickbaits and trials by media, democracy will decay. Early in the cur- rent millennium Samuel P. Huntington had rejoiced that "between 1974 and 1990" the world experienced a third wave of democratisation when the number of democracies dou- bled. Since then democracy has been in retreat. In a book entitled Anti- politics: On the demonisation of ideology, authority and the state, Elaine Glaser points out that figures such as Donald Trump and Nigel Farage have gained power by distancing themselves from "the establish- ment" and portraying politics as the enemy of the people. The media may have helped construct disenchantment and apathy. It is this apathy that was manipulated and exploited to bring the political Right to power; even though, in the world view of the Right, the media themselves are "the establishment". A recent Eurobarometer sur- vey in all the EU member states found that many respondents are worried about such trends. Many of those interviewed still view journalists to be mainly responsible for stopping the spread of fake news. Good journalism remains the corner- stone of democratic life. Along the years MaltaTo- day has nurtured the values of social responsibility and employed good practices to fa- cilitate citizen engagement. It is comforting to note that many citizens still perceive legacy media as the most trusted source of news. The hill might be getting steeper but, on many counts, the role of Malta Today is crucial. Without it, our public sphere would be less informed and provoking, less energised and varied and ultimately much poorer. 24 20 YEARS OF MALTATODAY maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 JANUARY 2020 Michael Falzon Carmen Sammut