Jon Mallia Stands Up For Podcast After Franco Debono Calls Him Out For Making Money
Podcaster Jon Mallia has stood up for his media venture after lawyer Franco Debono called him out for making money through it.
“Yes, my podcast is a business that employs seven people, makes a profit and plans to grow. We organised more events this year, and we plan to launch a documentary and other broadcasting formats next year.”
“That’s why it needs income – to renew, innovate and compete in an extremely hostile environment with ruthless competitors. Jon Mallia can forget about [benefitting from] ONE’s €7 million VAT overdraft and its €5 million ARMS bill. My friends and I are institutionally disadvantaged but we happen to not give a f*** either.”
“We play according to the rules – everything invoiced, no favours and we still win because we’re competent and believe in what we’re doing and because the audience’s enthusiasm is like a powder keg.”
Mallia questioned whether he and his employees could justify investing so much time and effort into the podcast if it wasn’t a profitable business.
“What are we going to do? Go back home to our families and feed them with likes and shares? Let’s be realistic here.”
“The podcast is dependent on the free market and nothing else, we don’t beg anyone for anything or kiss anyone’s ass. The moment we start slipping is the moment our patrons and sponsors will turn their heads.”
“So far it’s not the case and all slots have been sold till December – people want it and therefore businesses want it too. “Yes, we are earning a living by producing media that we actually f****** like. So what?”
The dispute started when Mallia invited Debono to his podcast Il-Podcast ta’ Jon.
The lawyer and former PN MP said he will only accept if Mallia “swears” not to profit off the interview but later proposed an alternative – a debate uploaded to both the podcast website and Debono’s blog with Peppi Azzopardi as moderator.
Many of Mallia’s followers criticised Debono’s attitude, questioning whether he offers his legal services free of charge, with Debono retorting that he never profited off his personal blog.
“I plan to upload a vlog that will be free to watch. All I need is a mobile and a couple of pots,” he said later.
“From what Jon Mallia wrote, it seems as though podcasts are an interesting business niche that one should consider. One can earn good money with a bit of effort.”
“I almost feel silly for not seeking a single cent from my blog, which has been online for ten years. I wasn’t a comedian when I started my blog but an MP and a lawyer. When I write today, I am writing as a lawyer with 23 years experience, a former MP and a person with 15 years of political experience.”
He concluded by accusing Mallia of running his blog to make money and not as a mission.
It’s not exactly clear what Debono’s problem with the podcast is, whether he believes people shouldn’t have the opportunity to monetise online content, or whether there are other issues that have yet to rise to the surface.
One thing’s for certain – Debono has regularly been interviewed by media houses, including on NET TV earlier this month to discuss the war in Ukraine, without publicly questioning their business model.
Would you like to see Franco Debono on Jon Mallia’s podcast?
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