Ownership (and the media)

This week's Maltatoday editorial spreads its peacock's tail with the poppycock about the free and independent media. The media with no strings attached. The editor tells us that the motivation to print certain stories lies in his newspaper's belief that it ought to be in the public domain. Good good. Vague but good. It is also good that the "independent media" now has its own custodians... a role that bloggers like myself and Vlad have taken on eagerly. Cuis custodiet ipsos custodies? The bloggers will. At least for now. And we will also bear the brunt of personal attacks when they come because some of us choose to blog without a pseudonym (and this is not a criticism though I prefer those who do not).

Back at the newspaper that defends all free comment and independent ideas we find another wonderful and encouraging paragraph in the editorial...

"This is the age of the independent media. A fair and incisive media can set the political agenda. Our country is crying out for a media which fairly, accurately, and firmly, probes political parties, politicians, the judiciary and persons appointed to political posts. Accountability and transparency are the hallmarks of a modern democracy. In probing, the media is fulfilling its duty to inform. During last week’s Int x’Tahseb interview the Prime Minister suggested that journalists too should declare their interests so as to assure readers listeners and audiences that there are no hidden agendas or conflicts of interest accusations surrounding the publishing of stories. This newspaper concurs with the prime minister’s suggestion and has no difficulty in extending such transparency to include media owners too."

There's hope yet. We'll wait then... and oh... if you wonder why John Dalli's pic sits on top of this article - I just thought the guy has been absent from the media for too long and that a bit of exposure would not hurt. Int x'tahseb?