Lovin Malta’s Top 11 Accomplishments For 2017
It’s safe to say that 2017 has been an eventful year – not least for all of us at Lovin Malta. So as the New Year looms, let’s take a trip down memory lane to remember some of the things we achieved.
1. America First, Malta Second
If ever a cartoon character had to be embodied in human form, it would be Donald Trump. Inspired by the Dutch parody video, Lovin Malta teamed up with video partners V Squared to bring Malta to the forefront of the America First, (insert country here) Second. Our video earned more than 650,000 views on YouTube and Facebook and even made it to Time Magazine. Not the worst way to start the year.
2. Propelling Jake Vella to international fame
Jake Vella, dubbed ‘the most inspiring kid in the world’, shot to international fame after Lovin Malta shared his story. The young man is one of just 75 people in the world with the rare medical condition ROHHAD (rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysregulation, hypoventilation and autonomic dysregulation). Jake Vella does triathlons to stay alive and his spirit is contagious.
Thanks to Malta and the awesome power of the internet, #TeamJake has made it all over the world, and with it, awareness of his condition and the chance for Jake to live his dreams. Our video of Jake got more than 5 million views and got him featured on media all over the world, from the USA to the UK.
3. We invested in an awesome new student app
Built with the modern-day student in mind, the FreeHour app is designed to help you make the most of your free periods, be it for study, coordinating group work, or even as a way to search for the latest student offers and job opportunities.
4. Kicking off merch
Proud as always to have brought the Lovin brand to Malta, what better way to express our gratitude than through our very own merchandise? That’s why we created the Lovin Malta natural amplification speakers (courtesy of Benjamin Sacco, Open Tinkers and digital fabrication gurus Dfab.studio). The speakers served as our Christmas gift to our highest-spending clients and hopefully we’ll have more merch next year. Maybe these Erbgħin Elf Christmas sweaters?
5. That time we started a political party
Well, kinda.
We certainly enjoyed launching Partit LM, a real political party with real aims and visions for Malta and Gozo. Too bad it was all just an April Fool’s Joke, albeit probably the most elaborate in Maltese history.
6. Coverage of the 2017 election
A snap election meant an insane rush in Malta, both politically and online. Lovin Malta was there every step of the way covering everything from the Egrant scandal to the landslide PL victory.
7. Lovin Live
This summer, we also launched our weekly live show Lovin Live – another joint production with our friends at V Squared which racked up more than 750,000 views across the season.
This is where we featured celebrities and up-and-coming stars from Malta and Gozo where we asked the real hard-hitting questions: like can Ira Losco impersonate Michelle Muscat, or how does Tiffany Pisani react when meeting Tony Agius De La Cheese himself?
Relive the Christmas Special here!
8. Then we got a political editor
Here at Lovin Malta we love ourselves a good laugh, but we also pride ourselves on being non-partisan and free from party lines (despite the constant LovinPN/LovinPL jibes). So what better way to hit hard at politics from both sides of the field with our very own political editor? Enter Tim Diacono: no-nonsense, unashamedly to-the-point and a very welcome addition to the Lovin Malta team!
9. Reaching 100K followers
Just shy of 19 months into the game, Lovin Malta hit the 100K mark on Facebook, making it arguably the number one non-traditional-media house in the nation.
Here’s to the next 100,000…
10. Chucky gets his big TV break
Love it or hate it, Xarabank is an institute unto itself and a household name in Malta and Gozo. So naturally, we were thrilled when our very own head of content, Chucky Bartolo, finally got to chat with side-along host, Mark, whilst hanging from the side of a cliff in their new aptly-named section Intervista ta’ Livell Għoli.
11. Getting name-dropped in Parliament
We appreciate a good shout-out. So we’ll give credit where credit’s due: thanks Owen Bonnici and Julia Farrugia for allowing Lovin Malta the grace of entering Parliament’s halls. Even if only by spoken word.
More of that and less of this please….