2026 Media Pluralism Monitor Malta report produced by 今日黑料 staff
The 2026 Media Pluralism Monitor, covering the year 2025, was released by the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom on 29 June. This year's Malta was produced by Megan Mallia, Louiselle Vassallo and Prof. 臓or摹 Mallia from the Department of Media and Communications, Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences (MAKS), University of Malta.
Similarly to previous editions, the report paints a concerning picture of the state of the media in Malta, highlighting issues such as persistent denials of freedom of information requests, the continued harassment and intimidation of journalists and activists holding power to account, the lack of political will to address the country’s poor media literacy, and the persisting delay in implementing long-awaited reforms aimed at protecting journalists and strengthening the rule of law.
Malta’s overall score in this year's edition is 71%, placing it in the high risk band, and making it the second most at-risk country in the European Union.
The Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM) is an annual scientific research project that was established by the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom in 2011. It assesses the state of the media across the European Union. The inquiry, which involves a total of 200 variables, takes into account not only press freedom and the safety of journalists, but also the stability and sustainability of the media sector, political and commercial influences on editorial independence, and inclusivity in the media, among other factors.
The 2026 Malta report follows up on previous editions by discussing persisting issues with specific focus on events occurring in 2025, including vexatious SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation) and the country’s limited anti-SLAPP legislation, the impacts of political-party-owned media on the media landscape, the dearth of reliable market data, the continuous denial of FOI requests, the severity of online trolling, and the lack of repercussions for public servants who target journalists in their line of duty. The report also discusses new developments and innovations in the media.
This year’s report highlights how a hostile environment persists through the continued vilification of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the harassment of investigative journalists, and the consistent failure of the Maltese government to fully implement the recommendations of the 2021 public inquiry into the circumstances of Caruana Galizia’s assassination.
Through input from external sources, the authors have been able to support and illustrate the aforementioned issues and many others by referencing real cases, capturing an accurate picture of the local situation.
The report was peer reviewed by external experts and the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom prior to publication.
