VOICE OF THE
WORKERS ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 2014
Contents Media Interactive
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The Media Cake
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Creative Europe
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Working in the Media
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Media in Action
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WORKING THE
MEDIA LANDSCAPE Singer, songwriter and poet Jim Morrison once said that whoever controls the media, controls the mind. The media is probably the most powerful entity on earth. It moulds persons into stars and vice-versa, and has a tab on much of the information we receive and share. The media is so powerful that it is the first target of dictators when they come to power. It is also regulated in most democracies, so that there are enough checks and balances that channel the media’s power in the right direction as much as possible. The phone hacking scandal that involved Rupert Murdoch’s News International and the defunct News of the World newspaper, has highlighted the immense power of the media and the importance that this sector is regulated and guided by ethical VOICE OF THE
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values. When power is huge, so is the temptation to go beyond what is acceptable. Needless to say, the media is also a very important sector for Malta. Apart from the fact that it is a significant employer, the media is also important for a vast array of reasons. The media contributes to culture, entertainment, news and information. Being a small country, working in the media in Malta necessitates that many have to be jack of all trades. Whereas in other countries, many workers in the media can specialise in one aspect of their work, most Maltese workers have to learn a significant spectrum of skills to be able to work well. Although flexibility has its advantages, it can inhibit the growth of quality and specialisation.
EDITOR’S NOTE JOSEF VELLA
Today, access to the media has improved. Pluralism has meant that there are more avenues for people to find employment in this sector. However, fierce competition for advertising revenue means that many productions face significant budget restrictions that can impinge on their quality. Also, the ownership of the media by political parties has severely impinged on the quality of fair journalism. The traditional media is facing competition both from foreign media, as well as from online media. It is a well-known fact that less young people consume 1
EDITORIAL
traditional media, and more of them spend time online. There is also a marked change in the ways people are consuming the media. The days of noninteraction are numbered. We are looking at an ever increasing scenario of sharing and interactive experiences using new technologies. We need a strong, proactive and visionary Maltese media sector. To become more effective,
workers need continuous training in new technology as well as new market and audience trends. On a practical level, MCAST courses are contributing to this. We also need more training on a management and policy level, as well as projects conducted jointly with foreign media organisations, so that we could learn from other countries’ experiences. The media sector cannot just grow by itself. It is essential that
developments are the product of a well-thought out, long term vision. This needs to be an exercise that is carried out with the active participation of all stakeholders. There needs to be much more cooperation by all the players in the sector, who need to engage on co-petition, that is, co-operating on common issues, even in a scenario of competition. The media sector is too important to be left to its own devices.
Media Interactive The days of traditional media consumption are numbered. Persons who were born in the 21st century are being dubbed the digital natives. These are changing the way the media is consumed, both locally as well as internationally. Interaction, sharing, mobile and tablet media, digital streaming and social networking sites are changing the media landscape forever. People working in the media have to be on the forefront of the media revolution through training, as well as creative links with foreign counterparts in order to absorb maximum skills transfer. Malta’s size may be small. But with today’s technology, creativity and proactivity will be a central issue for success. We need to make the most of our flexibility and creativity to be successful. We need a healthy, vibrant and socially targeted media sector in Malta. Amongst other things, we need a successful media to move forward in the right direction. VOICE OF THE
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INTERVIEW: KARL WRIGHT
THE
What, in your view, are the main issues being faced by workers in the media sector in Malta? In my opinion, the main issues being faced by workers in the media sector in Malta are the pressures created automatically by the competition with other media organisations, especially locally. A small country with a limited market with increasing media organisations which are all competing for the same resources and stories, audience/readership and advertising, implies a much harder scenario for all of those in the field. The lack of a common regulatory code is also an issue, especially where ethical issues are concerned. Unfortunately, sometimes one also gets the impression that freedom of expression and freedom of reporting are also an issue. In this line of work, do you see Malta’s small size as positive or negative? It depends on the way one looks at it. Malta’s size has both its positive and negative impact on the media sector. In a lot of instances, be it a small country, VOICE OF THE
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MEDIA CAKE INTERVIEW WITH KARL WRIGHT, STATION MANAGER RTK RADIO news travels faster, sources and happenings are closer and much more reachable. Be it a small country, it implies by default that there are a lot of people eating from the same cake. It is positive in terms of a healthy competition which challenges a media organisation to work harder and deliver better and stronger results, but it implies less revenue from adverts which sustain the running of the organisation.
In your opinion, what can be done to achieve better quality in the media industry? To be able to achieve better quality in the media industry, we need to have more professional training which will be provided regularly and for everyone in the field. We also need better collaboration and less antagonism between different media/media organisations. Definitely, a regulatory code, like a code of
Traditional media already gave way to modern media – especially the online media. Nowadays, there’s hardly any newspaper, radio or TV station which has not gone online, either directly, or indirectly via a ‘sister’ portal 3
INTERVIEW: KARL WRIGHT
ethics, which is adhered to by all journalists in all newsrooms. We also need more investment in technology and human resources; more education which instils critical thinking and inquistive skills in promising journalists and more public awareness about the media role in society. Do you think that the ‘traditional’ media will ever give way to upcoming media, specifically online? Will this change the way workers perform in this sector? Traditional media already gave way to modern media – especially the online media.
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Nowadays, there’s hardly any newspaper, radio or TV station which has not gone online, either directly, or indirectly via a ‘sister’ portal. We must say as well that besides a continuously updated website, traditional media embraced the social media. I still believe that the traditional value has its value and place in our society. The social media has changed all dynamics, especially through the need for quick uploads, possibly real time as something happens. This has triggered a process of change in the workers’ perspective and attitude towards the work they perform. I believe all workers
are surely more in tuned with modern technology and equipment, definitely becoming more web-oriented – even in their thinking/processing logic, they are also more acquainted with the social media and all its needs/risks and implications. Workers are facing a continuous challenge of adaptation as technology is changing very fast. Having said all this, I trust everyone in the field remains fully aware of the importance of face to face relationships, healthy workplace think tanks and constant/personal contact with colleagues and contact sources. We cannot let ourselves get carried away by technology.
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MEUSAC CREATIVE EUROPE
Creative Europe
As from January 1 of this year, the European Commission took a step forward on the previous multiannual MEDIA Programme into a new initiative entitled ‘Creative Europe’ whilst simultaneously developing on the goals of the former programme. The Commission opted for different funding schemes so as to reach new audiences. The overall aim of this programme is to enhance and improve the growth and expansion of Europe’s creative economy. With a budget of €1.46 billion, the EU’s funding programme aims at financing projects and initiatives over the next seven years. This budget was increased by 9% over preceding culture-related funding programmes with the increased allocation being distributed over various funding strands
targeting the needs of various creative sectors. In fact one of the most noteworthy differences in the new programme is the introduction of a funding strand dedicated towards assisting the development of digital games. This programme is divided into two sub-programmes - ‘Culture’ and ‘Media’. The Culture subprogramme helps cultural and creative organisation so as to operate and promote culture across the EU borders. Within this sub-programme, applicants may also apply for financial assistance for the creation of thematic multinational platforms and networks aimed at the assistance and the promotion of artists within their own country and overseas so as to bring about enhanced exposure of European artistic works.
The Media sub-programme on the other hand supports the development, distribution and also promotion of the EU film and audiovisual industries. Since this sub-programme is primarily dedicated to the provision of assistance to European audiovisual works, the submitted projects are aimed at increasing and improving the skills required within this sector, as well as the creation of audience development projects intended towards extended markets through the cultivation of calibre audiovisual consumers. It is important to recognise the fact that ‘Creative Europe’ also boasts other European initiatives within the art and cultural sector such as European Capitals of Culture’ and also European Heritage Label.’
MEUSAC 280 Republic Street, Valletta VLT 1112 Tel: +356 2200 3315 • Fax: +356 2200 3329 • Email: info.meusac@gov.mt www.meusac.gov.mt VOICE OF THE
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MCESD WORKING IN THE MEDIA
WORKING IN THE MEDIA A vibrant democratic scenario is assisted by journalists who provide society with information for it to be able to form opinions on social, economic and political issues. Working in the media industry brings with it a set of different challenges and abilities. Journalists need to be creative whilst honouring their obligation to report the truth. Cooperation with, and the expertise of, representatives of media professionals and media businesses are essential for the evaluation of the effective media regulating framework
with society. Some newspapers have become obsolete and replaced with other more modern and interactive media. The skills that are required to working in media today have also changed. This highlights the need for individuals working in the media to be continuously trained for them to be able to serve their duties. The digital media scenario may have also created new challenges to today’s journalists since audiences do not need to work hard to find news. Journalists need to be able to market their stories.
As technology developed, the media scenario changed. Social media is making it much easier for individuals to voice their opinions and for journalists to interact
Journalists risk their lives to portray the truth in war torn countries. Journalists are used by military groups to make a statement. In this regard one
needs to appreciate the lengths some journalists go through to put forward as loyal a picture to the public as possible. Silence in the media sometimes also plays an important role. One can take the recent case of the abducted Maltese worker in Libya. In this case, the media were asked not to report anything for the release operation to go as smoothly as possible. In recent uprisings in the North African region, media and its various forms played an important role in helping civil society to organise themselves. Society benefits when there is a vibrant media scenario since it gives an opportunity for civil society to influence change as well as make authorities accountable.
MCESD 280/3, Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1112 Tel: (+356) 2200 3300 www.mcesd.org.mt VOICE OF THE
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CONFEDERAZIONE ITALIANA AGRICOLTORI
Media in Action
For more information about the discussions and to download the documents containing the adopted points please check the following link: http://goo.gl/IWrX2g
Employment relationships in the media industry The sectoral working goup of the Internationl Labour Organization has published last 18th July a sectoral working paper, written by Andrew Bibby, which discusses how the changes occurring in recent years in the media industry have affected employment relationships. Mr Bibby has assessed whether media employment is becoming less secure, if freelance work is increasingly prevalent, and how effectively social dialogue is addressing the challenges of the industry. The document is available at the following link: http://goo.gl/cRFYMt Joint EC-OECD Seminar - Job quality, labour market performance and well-being The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is organising in cooperation with the European Commission a seminar entitled ‘Job Quality, Labour Market Performance and Well-being’ to present the first findings from OECD’s Job Quality project. The seminar will be hold in Brussels on the 27 - 28 November 2014. More information are available here: http://goo.gl/rZ2nkP 4th European Forum of New Ideas (EFNI) The Polish Confederation Lewiatan, in cooperation with Businesseurope and Sopot are organising the 4th edition of the European Forum for New Ideas in Sopot, Poland on 1-3 October 2014. Approximately 150 panelists will gather together to participate in 30 debates on this year’s topic: ‘Secure and competitive Europe: realistic goal or unattainable dream? Business perspective’. The outcome of this work will contribute to recommendations to be forwarded to the political and economic decision-makers in the EU. For more information, please visit the website www.efni.pl/en.
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DOCUMENTS
ILO Global Dialogue Forum in Media & Culture puts forward global priorities for action The ILO Global Dialogue Forum on Employment Relationships in the Media and Culture Sector (GDF) took place on 14-15 May in Geneva. The GDF brought together representatives from the 4 global unions in the sector, FIA, FIM, IFJ and UNI MEI, representatives of the employers, as well as several governments. The purpose of the GDF was to address employment relationships in the media and culture sector with a view to adopting points of consensus that would encourage future programme development and inform policy-making on the selected topic at the international, regional and national levels.
EVENTS
NEWS AND VIEWS
Economic sectors are not just made of plant and processes; they are essentailly made of people. Employment relationships in the media sector are an important element in the success of the media sector in particular. The Brussels Office of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori has collected some initiatives relevant to the sector.
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