PN: Media reform plans must be presented to public before parliament

The Nationalist Party has called for proposed reforms to media laws to be opened up to public consultation before they are presented to parliament. 

In a statement on Saturday, PN MP Karol Aquilina said that the proposals, unveiled by Justice Minister Jonathan Attard earlier this week, contained several inconsistencies and would continue to allow the government to restrict access to information. 

The proposals seek to include mention of the media and the free press in Malta’s constitution, revise laws to bettter protect journalists from crime and the threat of vexatious lawsuits and set up a ‘safety committee’ made up of the police commissioner, army chief and security service head to discuss protecting journalists. 

Attard said the reforms were drafted following recommendations made by a ‘committee of experts’ appointed by the government to advise on how to reform media laws. He said 86 per cent of the committee’s proposals had been taken on board.

But the plans have drawn a tepid response so far, with many saying they will do little to protect local media or allow it to better do its work. 

Chief among critics’ concerns is the government’s failure to include anything that...