1st Edition
The Construction of News in a Polarised State Maltese Advocacy Journalism
Taking a qualitative approach based on original case studies, this book offers a detailed overview of the contemporary media system in Malta.
Three Maltese news organisations are examined to understand the editorial routines, ownership and management structures, and social and cultural factors that affect the day-to-day business of creating news. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders of each organisation are conducted alongside qualitative textual analysis of the content they publish. Contrary to previous research, the work finds that advocacy continues to dominate Maltese journalism, indicating that the country has retained similarities to other media systems within its geographic region. While recognising that the gold standard in journalism is judged to be objectivity and balance, a case is made for a responsible, measured form of advocacy journalism to extend media diversity and contribute to a high level of national political engagement.
Presenting an informed case for the need to pay closer attention to small states, especially at a time when many countries are seen to be becoming increasingly socially and politically divided, The Construction of News in a Polarised State is an insightful text for scholars and academics in the fields of media and communication studies, political science, and sociology.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1 Introduction
1. Introduction
2. Structure and layout
Chapter 2 Determining what is news
2.1 Introduction
2.2 News and the construction of reality
2.3 Identifying the media system
2.4 The issue of size
2.5 Conclusions
Chapter 3 The roots of a polarised media system
3.1 Introduction
3.2 The political context
3.3 Historical roots of Maltese media
3.4 Contextualising journalism in present-day Malta
3.5 Media in present-day Malta
3.6 Comparative media usage
3.7 Electoral campaigning
3.8 Conclusions
Chapter 4 Being an outsider: Malta Today
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Ownership of Malta Today
4.3 Organisational structure and routines
4.4 The Culture of Malta Today
4.5 External pressures
4.6 Malta Today coverage of the 2017 electoral campaign
4.7 Conclusions
Chapter 5 TVM, the public’s news service
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Ownership and historical positioning
5.3 Organisation structure and routines
5.4 Culture and boundaries
5.5 External pressures (commercial and political)
5.6 TVM coverage of the 2017 electoral campaign
5.7 Conclusions
Chapter 6 Times of Malta
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Ownership and historical positioning
6.3 Organisation structure and routines
6.4 Culture
6.5 Times of Malta Coverage of the 2017 Electoral Campaign
6.6 Conclusions
Chapter 7 Conclusion: The construction of news in a polarised state
7.1 Polarisation and advocacy
7.2 A different perspective of pluralism
7.3 Proximity and scale
7.4 Journalist agency
7.5 Conclusions: and weaknesses of the Maltese media system
Appendices
Appendix 1 Disclosure of the position of the researcher
Biography
Adrian Hillman has extensive experience of leading media operations, having previously worked as executive director of Allied Newspapers and managing director of Allied Group of Companies. He worked as a consultant to the Maltese Government leading up to the EU pre-accession referendum and has assisted governments, companies, and organisations around the world as an associate partner of a geopolitical consultancy firm. He completed his PhD in news construction and political communication at Goldsmiths College University of London, UK, in 2021.
