Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539053
IN Malta, we know—painful- ly—what happens when media freedom is under threat. We've lived it. We understand that when a journalist like Daphne Caruana Galizia is killed with a car bomb outside her home, it's not just an attack on an individual. It's an assault on the public's right to information. It's a bid to si- lence the truth before it can be heard. That attack did not occur un- expectedly. It followed years of threats, lawsuits, and in- timidation. It was the result of a political culture rooted in secrecy and impunity. Society had gradually learned to accept the silencing of uncomfortable voices. But without those voices, there is no democracy. Democratic Vision 2050 rec- ognises that media freedom is not a luxury or merely decora- tive. It is a fundamental pillar. When journalism is robust, cit- izens can hold those in power to account. When it is fragile, corruption spreads, lies be- come policy, and the truth is whatever the powerful declare it to be. Currently, Malta continues to face challenges in this area. Yes, we have some courageous and autonomous journalists. Yes, excellent investigative journalism is being conducted. However, the structures de- signed to safeguard media free- dom remain delicate—and in some instances, intentionally undermined. Journalists still face legal har- assment. Public broadcasting, which should offer impartial, inclusive, high-quality jour- nalism, is still widely seen as a government mouthpiece— more interested in spin than scrutiny. Political parties own their own media houses, creating echo chambers rather than a shared public conversation. This blurs the line between journalism and propaganda, contributing to the tribalism that poisons much of our na- tional debate. Meanwhile, freelance and in- dependent journalists operate in precarious conditions, lack- ing the institutional or financial support needed to challenge the powerful. Many encoun- ter online abuse, threats, and isolation. Others self-censor— not because they are weak, but because they are exhausted or frightened. We cannot build a democrat- ic future on this shaky ground. That's why Democratic Vi- sion 2050 advocates for urgent, structural reform to safeguard and enhance genuine media freedom. We propose a new legal framework to prevent SLAPPs, including rules that enable courts to dismiss abusive law- suits swiftly and to penalise those who exploit the legal sys- tem to silence dissent. We want a fully independent and reformed PBS, managed by a board representing multiple parties and civil society, ded- icated to editorial independ- ence, transparency, and public service journalism, not politi- cal loyalty. We call for clear rules to limit political party media owner- ship, ensuring Malta's media landscape does not become dominated by two echo cham- bers shouting past each other. Political voices should contrib- ute to public debate, yet not dominate it. We call for increased financial transparency from media com- panies, particularly those that receive state advertising, to en- sure public funds are not used to promote friendly coverage or penalise critical reporting. We propose establishing a public interest journalism fund, accessible to independ- ent journalists and newsrooms, to support investigative jour- nalism and promote diversity. This fund must be managed independently, free from polit- ical influence. And finally, we need cultural change. We must stop treating journalists as enemies of the people. We should teach media literacy in schools. We must recognise journalism as a pub- lic good, just as vital to democ- racy as courts, parliaments, or elections. Because the real truth is this: if we want clean politics, fair justice, and an informed public, we need a free press. No watch- dog equals no accountability. No scrutiny equals no shame. And no media freedom equals no true freedom at all. Media freedom is not about protecting journalists for their own sake. It's about protecting your right to know what's being done in your name, with your money, and to your future. Without that, democracy be- comes a performance. With it, democracy becomes a conver- sation. Read the full vision at www.re- pubblika.org/democracy2050. Because if we don't defend the media, we won't know when everything else is falling apart. 9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 SEPTEMBER 2025 OPINION Pia Zammit There is no democracy without media freedom Committee member, Repubblika Media freedom is not about protecting journalists for their own sake. It's about protecting your right to know what's being done in your name, with your money, and to your future.