On November, 2, to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the Justice For Journalists Foundation (JFJ) and the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) organised a webinar – Media freedom in Malta. Murder, Disinformation and Legal Intimidation.
Speakers:
- Caroline Muscat, Founder and Managing Editor of The Shift
- Paul Caruana Galizia, Journalist and son of Daphne Caruana Galizia
- Rebecca Vincent, Director of International Campaigns at Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and a member of FPC’s Advisory Council
- Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers
Chair: Lana Estemirova, Host of the Trouble with the Truth Podcast and FPC Fellow
Over the four years since the murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017, her family and friends have carried out a courageous campaign for justice. Their tenacity has resulted in bringing those accused in her murder to trial and created a wider anti-corruption movement in Maltese politics and society.
Despite Caruana Galizia’s murder shining an international spotlight on the island, independent journalists have continued to face significant harassment, including disinformation campaigns and legal intimidation. Almost all (*if not all) major independent Maltese media have faced an attempted SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) as a result of their reporting on matters in the public interest. Many of these have been facilitated by UK based law firms, an experience also shared by Caruana Galizia prior to her assassination.
This event, co-organised by the Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ) and the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), will explore the state of media freedom in Malta today. The speakers will discuss what the campaign for justice for Daphne has achieved and how independent journalism can be better protected in the future.
Listen to the audio recording of the event here. Video recording of the webinar is also available here.