Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/995828
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 JUNE 2018 3 NEWS MARIA PACE MALTESE Youtubers could soon be paid for their online work as Google agrees to add Malta to YouTube's partner programme. Later this year, YouTube will be expanding its You- Tube Partnership Programme to Malta, making the pro- gramme available to the growing ecosystem of local creators. This will enable creators to earn money from their vid- eos and have access to a wide range of tools and resources to make the most of the con- tent on YouTube. In a statement, YouTube said Malta would join the programme in September. Creators can already access online lessons via the You- Tube Creator Academy to get started and learn best prac- tices, while the Creator Com- munity gives creators a place to meet each other, find col- laborations, and more. YouTube's decision is of a great significance for view- ers and fans in Malta since it means that it will make it eas- ier to discover local creators and content. YouTube now has local versions in more than 90 countries, including Malta. Fabian Borg, founder of Cre- ators Malta, who took the ini- tiative to petition Google to include Malta in the YouTube Partnership Programme, wel- comed the approach. "I welcome Google and You- Tube's approach to localise their content sharing plat- form, thereby giving Maltese content creators a level play- ing field with fellow creators in the EU and internationally. I see this as the start of the process towards the full in- clusion of Malta into the YPP, which will finally give Maltese content creators the opportu- nity to commercialise their activity while, at the same time, creating a new econom- ic sector for the country." Enrico Bellini, Public Policy Manager, Google, said, "We have heard loud and clear the requests from our local com- munity in Malta and we hope that with a dedicated domain and the upcoming open up of the YouTube Partnership Programme (YPP) in Septem- ber, we help in paving the way for the work of more Maltese creators, artists and musi- cians to shine on the world's most vibrant video commu- nity." Digital Economy parliamen- tary secretary, Silvio Schem- bri, expressed great satisfac- tion over YouTube's decision to launch a country-specific version and local domain for Malta available in English at youtube.com.mt. "This decision is a result of discussions the Maltese Gov- ernment had with Google. After having noted the peti- tion of local content creators for Malta to be included in Google's YouTube Partner- ship Programme, we have actively lobbied with Google both on a National and Euro- pean level," he said. "We encourage all content creators to use this channel responsibly, to take the op- portunity to promote their talent and our country. I per- sonally thank Google for the trust shown in Malta, for lis- tening to our concerns and for their contribution in bol- stering Malta's digital econo- my." Maltese MEP, Francis Zam- mit Dimech, also welcomed the launch. "YouTube is a very impor- tant platform especially for young artists who want to get out there and grow. There- fore, I welcome the launch of a country-specific page and plans to later also compensate content generators to contin- ue to support local artists and offer further quality content to users. This is something I truly believe in and, in fact, I have been working on this matter with the Maltese You- Tube community." Maltese YouTubers could soon get paid for online work Content creators rejoice! Maltese YouTubers could soon get paid for their online work by next September YouTube's decision will make it easier to discover local creators