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Maltese Editor Pledges Transparency Blitz On All News Houses After Court Decides To Publish His Government Funding

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MediaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan has promised to request information on government funding to all media houses over the past 20 years.

In a recent opinion piece, Balzan weighed in on a recent decision by the Court of Appeal, which confirmed a decision that TheShiftNews should be granted access to information about government contracts with his companies since PL’s 2013 election victory.

The case goes back to 2021 when TheShiftNews filed Freedom of Information requests with several government entities, requesting information on how many contracts and payments Balzan and his companies had received under subsequent PL administrations.

The Data and Information Commissioner ruled that the information should be made public, but the government entities appealed to the Appeals Tribunal.

When the tribunal, chaired by lawyer Anna Mallia, agreed with the Commissioner, the government filed 18 separate court appeals.

Forced to fork out legal expenses, TheShiftNews launched a public fundraiser to help them battle the cases and received over €9,000.

Judge Lawrence Mintoff (Photo: TVM)

Judge Lawrence Mintoff (Photo: TVM)

Last week, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of TheShiftNews and its editor Caroline Muscat for two of those cases, filed by the Malta Film Commission and Circular Economy.

While a decision has yet to be taken on the other 16 cases, Judge Lawrence Mintoff’s logic – that public authorities are obliged to be accountable and transparent – indicates they could be won by TheShiftNews too.

“This is a victory for all truly independent journalists in the country and a victory for the public’s right to know,” Muscat said, urging the government to comply with the court’s ruling.

In a recent article in his newspaper MaltaToday, Balzan said he has no problem being transparent about his business relationship with the government so long as other media houses are too.

“As legal representative I have signed all contracts for advertising campaigns or surveys since 1999,” he wrote.

“Most of these contracts have been made public but I have no problem being transparent and surely our accounts are infinitely more detailed and revealing than any other media house’s accounts.”

“The point here is not about access to information requests but rather the selective nature in asking for Freedom of Information requests.”

“In this scenario, I am left with no other choice other than to request information on all government contributions to all the other media houses in the last 20 years.”

“I say 20 years because Caroline Muscat, a PN apologist, wishes to give the impression that before a certain date, media apartheid did not exist and that journalism started and ends with the online platform she owns.”

“We can then compare and see what has been happening to government advertising or services. And yes, I believe that without State intervention, media houses will cease to exist.”

“And since we are talking of transparency can Caroline Muscat perhaps declare all her revenues and the origin of all her contributions and contributors? And also make known who all her writers are?”

“I have no problem being shown for what I am – a maverick, ambitious, hard-working and abrasive media owner. But let us see what is happening in the whole media scene not only in the ones owned by myself.”

This January 2022 edition of Kullħadd cost €16,700 in public funds through ads

This January 2022 edition of Kullħadd cost €16,700 in public funds through ads

As it stands, there are no transparency rules dictating how government entities should allocate their marketing budget, which means ministers can use public funds to boost media houses they like, while essentially blacklisting those they dislike.

In January 2022, 18 ministers and parliamentary secretaries paid €16,700 in public funds for ads in a single edition of the party’s Sunday newspaper Kullħadd which celebrated the two year anniversary of Robert Abela becoming Prime Minister.

However, things could change if a proposed EU law comes into action.

The European Media Freedom Act – which was adopted by the European Commission last year – will oblige EU member states to ensure its allocation of state advertising is transparent and non-discriminatory.

Cover photo: Left: MediaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan, Right: TheShiftNews managing editor Caroline Muscat

Do you think the government should be transparent about its advertising budget?

READ NEXT: Breaking: All TV Stations Should Be Impartial, Constitutional Court Declares In Major Ruling Against Broadcasting Authority

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]

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