There are many important reasons why the press is valuable and important, especially in Malta and in the world in general today, but one notion stands out. All the transgressions against humanity and nature taking place today in all parts of the world are contributing to an accelerated march towards totalitarianism and dystopia.
Here, the role of the press is crucial because it is the press that reveals these transgressions, and it is the press’s role to say it as it is.
On the opposing side of this argument, there are those who think that truth has many versions and is relative to one’s perspective: that we have to understand the Russian soul as to why Russia invaded Ukraine; that people were in the Jeffrey Epstein files only because they particularly liked his company or did business with him, but nothing else; and that Yorgen Fenech didn’t murder Daphne Caruana Galizia despite admitting to paying for and commissioning the murder himself.
The press stands for the truth, and truth is anathema to transgressors.
Our role today is not just highly important, but crucial to our existence as a civilised society that knows the truth, as opposed to believing in myths and superstition and remaining totally ignorant.
This is why I have always been involved in publishing and find great value in it, because truth and knowledge better society in all its forms.
I believe that the existence of the independent press is something beautiful in the landscape of darkness we find ourselves in today. This is why I fight for it every day.
Building The Maltese Herald has been a tantalising journey, but I think there is still a long way to go. When we started in late 2024, we began operating with three employees. Now we are down to one employee, besides myself, and we are onboarding a new employee.
In our local market, we are competing directly against the government, which has captured the press through direct and indirect subsidies. This is our biggest challenge: navigating a market that is overly saturated with government intervention and control.
Then there are the legal cases and direct attacks, such as the most recent month-long and prolonged legal and cyber warfare waged against us by the Azerbaijani oil company Alkagesta.
We are taking the opportunity during this time to reorganise ourselves and solidify our foundations for a more long-term and sustainable existence.
Independent journalism is a very contrarian thing to pursue under current conditions, but we take satisfaction in the fact that we can persevere through very difficult moments.
We encourage you to support us. Subscribe here from this link.
Only for donations (not subscriptions) Paypal: mark@darcamilleri.com and Revolut: +35677007909
Website Editor
Historian and Publisher
Leave a Reply