The Times of Malta, The Malta Independent, Malta Today, The Shift News and Lovin Malta have all editorially announced they back tomorrow’s civil society protest in Valletta. This is significant. This is important.
The truth about Daphne Caruana Galizia’s killing has emerged thanks to the work of journalists working in all those organisations. With the help of colleagues from all across the globe the Maltese press has not allowed the veil of forgetfulness to let the country turn away from the search of truth and justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia.
But now the truth is known, journalists are foremost demanding justice. And journalists have spent the last two years thinking about the causes of Daphne’s killing. There’s the obvious cause of course which is the evil intent of the assassins and their masters. But there’s also the sickness of our country, the corruption, the institutional failure, the cultural divisiveness.
And independent journalists are particularly sensitive to one of the biggest weaknesses of our polity: people’s right to information is frustrated by TV media choked by political parties and a state broadcaster that serves its master’s voice. Journalists fight daily intimidation, vexatious libel suits and resource starvation. Journalists are not complaining because they feel any of their privileges are diluted. Journalists are complaining because citizens’ right to know what their politicians and their friends are doing is trampled upon by the mafia.
Journalists are front line actors in a vibrant civil society. These news organisations are rivals and competitive. But they share one value they will not compromise on: the right of their readers to know the truth.