President hopes media reform is implemented in her lifetime
Death, injury of journalist should be classified as aggravated offence
President Myriam Spiteri Debono called on the government to wrap up the proposed media reform, telling a journalists' award ceremony she hopes she is still alive when the legal amendments are implemented.
Addressing the 33rd edition of the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM), Spiteri Debono referred to the government's public consultation on the matter.
"This is an important step that has long been coming. It is society's duty to support journalists in their task of keeping society informed," the President said, adding that people had a right to remain abreast of what's going on.
She urged the IĠM and the sector's stakeholders to provide their feedback about the proposed reform.
Earlier this year, the government launched a public consultation on media reform to create a legal framework which it believes will “strengthen freedom of expression while promoting accountability and integrity in journalism”.
The consultation, which comes to an end at the end of October, builds on a 2021 government commitment following the recommendations of the public inquiry into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia which led to the appointment of a Committee of Media Experts.
The reform process has already led to the presentation of three bills in parliament.
On Saturday, Spiteri Debono urged for structures that ensure a decent livelihood for those within the sector, noting that those within the profession faced harsh and risky conditions.
"This is a necessity. I understand that at the moment, one of the biggest headaches within the journalistic sector is the shortage of journalists, and one of the reasons behind this shortage is the work conditions and pay.
"What do we need to do to encourage more youths and new investigative minds to join this very crucial sector? That's why a reform is needed as soon as possible."
In her address, the President referred to the journalists killed in Gaza in recent months.
The work and sacrifice of people who leave everything behind and dedicate their lives to inform others should be valued, she said, adding that one way of doing this would be to classify the death or injury of a journalist as an aggravated offence.