The editorial of The Independent entitled <<Media under threat>> “This week’s cyberattack on blogger Manuel Delia’s blog was not an isolated incident, but the latest in a long chain of events. The editorial argues that the malicious DDoS attack, intended to cripple the website of a government critic, is concerning because it shows what lengths some individuals will go to and how much money they are willing to spend in order to silence an uncomfortable voice. The editorial also points that there are, of course, other forms of attacks on the press. “A number of journalists are regularly attacked by the government and by top government and Labour Party exponents. Some journalists are often named and ridiculed in official government press releases. Journalists are also often targeted by ministers’ lapdogs, who would rather spend their day trolling reporters on Facebook and rallying their supporters against the press than actually doing what we the taxpayers are paying them to do. Some of those attacking their media ‘colleagues’ have even promoted within the Office of the Prime Minister. There also exists another form of bullying – SLAPP threats from big companies. While the recently revamped media law has done away with criminal libel and is generally favourable for the media trade, the government has been reluctant to act against SLAPP suits.” The bottom line is that if people want the media to be better and stronger they should support it and treat it like the important pillar of democracy that it is.
MaltaToday’s editorial <<Punishing Montebello is not what the Church needs>> welcomes the news that Archbishop Charles Scicluna has offered to mediate in what seems to be a rift between the Dominican Order and their subject, the philoso- pher-friar Mark Montebello, has been a welcome development.There was never any doubt that Charles Scicluna was a man fit to take the helm of the Maltese archdiocese at a time when the Church’s voice had been silenced by the secularist change enveloping Malta. he reactions to the Montebello censorship has exposed partisan fault- lines with some Labour sympathisers rushing to defend Montebello and other Nationalist sympathisers comparing the Church to an exclusive club whose rules Montebello has violated repeatedly. But in the past, Labour supporters have criticised Scicluna for being outspoken because his outspokenness has never been sympathetic towards Labour. And yet, freedom of expression has to be guaranteed, for both progressives as well as conservatives, rebellious monks and establishment ecclesiasts. Indeed, Montebello’s voice inside the Church is a necessary one. The Church would be wrong not to convince the Do- minican order to lay down its punishing threat. A Church that wants to enjoy relevance must be one that is able to tolerate dis- sent, debate and critical views.
The Times’ editorial <<Revamping tourism strategy >> argues that despite the increase in the number of tourists in the last few years, many argue the tourism experience Malta is offering falls short of the qualities that will guarantee long-term success. Many tourist areas remain unacceptably dirty, roads poorly maintained, beaches lack sufficient hygienic facilities and locally-trained staff are unwilling to consider a career in tourism because many operators prefer to employ low- skilled and low-paid foreign workers. The locals are also important stake- holders. Undoubtedly, the creation of jobs in the tourism industry should not be taken for granted, even if it seems that many of these new jobs are being taken over by foreigners. But the pressures tourism is making on the country’s physical and social infrastructure are beginning to irritate many people, not just those residing in tourist areas.
In-Nazzjon’s editorial <<Il-Prim Ministru Keith Schembri>> argues that in various instances, there is a number of reasons to believe that the actual Prime Minister is Keith Schembri (the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff), as Prime Minister Muscat isn’t in a position to control Schembri and the various institutions which are meant to investigate Schembri aren’t doing so.
Orizzont’s editorial <<Kienu qalu li se nikkrollaw>> refers to how prior to the last election, the Nationalist Party predicted that Malta’s economy will collapse. The editorial also states how the situation after Daphne Caruana Galizia’s death also saw the prediction on the deterioration of Malta’s credibility. The editorial argues that these predictions are not materialising as the country is witnessing more companies choosing Malta for their expansions and investment. It refers to the announcement of BET 365’s relocation to Malta.
