“A free and unhindered press is the only way we can have a functioning democracy” – IĠM on World Press Freedom Day 2019

A free and unhindered press is our own only means to make informed decisions about the society we would like to live in. On World Press Freedom Day celebrated on 3 May, the Institute of Maltese Journalists joined international press associations and civil society groups in reminding the public of how essential the free press is to the maintaining the freedoms we all take for granted. No society can be considered a true democracy without a press that has access to transparent and reliable information about the people taking decisions which impact their lives. The institute would like to reiterate that libel suits against independent media should only be used as a last resort and should never be used to silence and deter journalists from following a story. IGM remains concerned at the risk to the local press of SLAPP lawsuits filed in foreign jurisdictions and calls on the authorities to provide the necessary guarantees against such threats. The country is currently weeks away from European and local elections and the IGM appeals to all candidates and political activists not to use, and to understand the dangers of anti-media rhetoric. The media has an obligation to inform the public about the people who are asking to be their representatives on the local and European stage and for this to happen, the press must be allowed to do their job without fear of repercussion. IGM therefore joins the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in its campaign for safe and independent election coverage.

“Elections represent a test of political commitment to democracy, when the impulse to manipulate media and to control information is strongest among ruling parties and candidates running for office,” said IFJ President Philippe Leruth. “Too often, journalists are being put under huge and unnecessary pressure and we call on all governments to take specific precautions to allow journalists to report freely.”
In recent years we have seen journalists repeatedly harassed or intimidated online, driven to a certain extent by a delegitimization of journalists and the press by those unwilling to open themselves up to the scrutiny required of them in their position.
Citizens can only form informed opinions if they have clear answers to pertinent questions, and information based on factual truth.
On this day, the institute would also like to remember Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed over a year and a half ago, by someone who wanted to deprive the public of information. IGM calls on local authorities to do all in their power to bring all those responsible to justice as quickly as possible.
As long as we remain in the dark about why Daphne was killed, we can never be truly free to do our work. Those who believed that killing a journalist was a viable way to cover up a story.