VOICE OF THE
WORKERS ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 2014
Contents Media Interactive
02
The Media Cake
03
Creative Europe
05
Working in the Media
06
Media in Action
07
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
WORKERS
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