More than 130 Maltese journalists, broadcasters, researchers, media platforms and activists have called on Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela to make good on his long-time promises to strengthen the media sector and improve freedom of speech.
Following the conclusions and recommendations of the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry in July 2021, Abela set up a Media Experts Committee tasked with providing advice on legislation to improve the media sector’s safety and transparency. But over three years later, almost none of the inquiry’s recommendations have been implemented, and the media sector continues languishing.
With over 130 signatories, the letter said, “Free expression cannot be protected by secretly drawn up laws,” calling for publishing a report with recommendations from the government-appointed committee sent to the prime minister more than six weeks ago.
The letter called for the government’s intentions and any prospective legislative bills to be published as a white paper, allowing for “an open and effective public consultation” before being presented to Parliament.
“Without the active participation of members of the profession and the public, this law will be secretly written. It cannot, therefore, reflect society’s needs and will, consequently, fail,” it said.
“We expect the State to implement all the [Daphne Caruana Galizia] Public Inquiry recommendations and to do so in a holistic manner,” the letter concluded.
The petition is the second letter sent to the Prime Minister in as many years, with a similar call made in September last year falling on deaf ears.
In April 2022, the media experts committee, appointed by Abela, completed an initial report reviewing the government’s ready-made legislative reform proposals for the sector. Abela breached his terms of reference for the committee, failing to publish it before the 2022 summer recess.
Following the report’s publication in late September 2022, severe backlash prompted Abela to halt the legislative introduction of the media reform proposals until the Media Experts Committee could conduct further consultation and produce a second report.
That second report, completed last June, has not yet been released. The Shift has since revealed that committee members have made €18,000 each since their appointment by Abela.
The members of the Media Experts Committee, who signed a non-disclosure agreement with the government, did not sign the petition.
(Sean Montebello | Theshiftnews.com)
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