Adrian Hillman has extensive experience of leading media operations, having previously worked as executive director of Allied Newspapers and managing director of Allied Group of Companies. He worked as a consultant to the Maltese Government leading up to the EU pre-accession referendum and has assisted governments, companies, and organisations around the world as an associate partner of a geopolitical consultancy firm. He completed his PhD in news construction and political communication at Goldsmiths College University of London, UK, in 2021.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Chapter 1 Introduction 1. Introduction2. Structure and layoutChapter 2 Determining what is news 2.1 Introduction2.2 News and the construction of reality2.3 Identifying the media system2.4 The issue of size2.5 ConclusionsChapter 3 The roots of a polarised media system 3.1 Introduction3.2 The political context3.3 Historical roots of Maltese media3.4 Contextualising journalism in present-day Malta3.5 Media in present-day Malta3.6 Comparative media usage3.7 Electoral campaigning3.8 ConclusionsChapter 4 Being an outsider: Malta Today 4.1 Introduction4.2 Ownership of Malta Today4.3 Organisational structure and routines4.4 The Culture of Malta Today4.5 External pressures4.6 Malta Today coverage of the 2017 electoral campaign4.7 ConclusionsChapter 5 TVM, the public’s news service 5.1 Introduction5.2 Ownership and historical positioning5.3 Organisation structure and routines5.4 Culture and boundaries5.5 External pressures (commercial and political)5.6 TVM coverage of the 2017 electoral campaign5.7 ConclusionsChapter 6 Times of Malta 6.1 Introduction6.2 Ownership and historical positioning6.3 Organisation structure and routines6.4 Culture6.5 Times of Malta Coverage of the 2017 Electoral Campaign6.6 ConclusionsChapter 7 Conclusion: The construction of news in a polarised state7.1 Polarisation and advocacy7.2 A different perspective of pluralism7.3 Proximity and scale7.4 Journalist agency7.5 Conclusions: and weaknesses of the Maltese media systemAppendices Appendix 1 Disclosure of the position of the researcher

Adrian Hillman has extensive experience of leading media operations, having previously worked as executive director of Allied Newspapers and managing director of Allied Group of Companies. He worked as a consultant to the Maltese Government leading up to the EU pre-accession referendum and has assisted governments, companies, and organisations around the world as an associate partner of a geopolitical consultancy firm. He completed his PhD in news construction and political communication at Goldsmiths College University of London, UK, in 2021.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Chapter 1 Introduction 1. Introduction2. Structure and layoutChapter 2 Determining what is news 2.1 Introduction2.2 News and the construction of reality2.3 Identifying the media system2.4 The issue of size2.5 ConclusionsChapter 3 The roots of a polarised media system 3.1 Introduction3.2 The political context3.3 Historical roots of Maltese media3.4 Contextualising journalism in present-day Malta3.5 Media in present-day Malta3.6 Comparative media usage3.7 Electoral campaigning3.8 ConclusionsChapter 4 Being an outsider: Malta Today 4.1 Introduction4.2 Ownership of Malta Today4.3 Organisational structure and routines4.4 The Culture of Malta Today4.5 External pressures4.6 Malta Today coverage of the 2017 electoral campaign4.7 ConclusionsChapter 5 TVM, the public’s news service 5.1 Introduction5.2 Ownership and historical positioning5.3 Organisation structure and routines5.4 Culture and boundaries5.5 External pressures (commercial and political)5.6 TVM coverage of the 2017 electoral campaign5.7 ConclusionsChapter 6 Times of Malta 6.1 Introduction6.2 Ownership and historical positioning6.3 Organisation structure and routines6.4 Culture6.5 Times of Malta Coverage of the 2017 Electoral Campaign6.6 ConclusionsChapter 7 Conclusion: The construction of news in a polarised state7.1 Polarisation and advocacy7.2 A different perspective of pluralism7.3 Proximity and scale7.4 Journalist agency7.5 Conclusions: and weaknesses of the Maltese media systemAppendices Appendix 1 Disclosure of the position of the researcher

Adrian Hillman has extensive experience of leading media operations, having previously worked as executive director of Allied Newspapers and managing director of Allied Group of Companies. He worked as a consultant to the Maltese Government leading up to the EU pre-accession referendum and has assisted governments, companies, and organisations around the world as an associate partner of a geopolitical consultancy firm. He completed his PhD in news construction and political communication at Goldsmiths College University of London, UK, in 2021.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Chapter 1 Introduction 1. Introduction2. Structure and layoutChapter 2 Determining what is news 2.1 Introduction2.2 News and the construction of reality2.3 Identifying the media system2.4 The issue of size2.5 ConclusionsChapter 3 The roots of a polarised media system 3.1 Introduction3.2 The political context3.3 Historical roots of Maltese media3.4 Contextualising journalism in present-day Malta3.5 Media in present-day Malta3.6 Comparative media usage3.7 Electoral campaigning3.8 ConclusionsChapter 4 Being an outsider: Malta Today 4.1 Introduction4.2 Ownership of Malta Today4.3 Organisational structure and routines4.4 The Culture of Malta Today4.5 External pressures4.6 Malta Today coverage of the 2017 electoral campaign4.7 ConclusionsChapter 5 TVM, the public’s news service 5.1 Introduction5.2 Ownership and historical positioning5.3 Organisation structure and routines5.4 Culture and boundaries5.5 External pressures (commercial and political)5.6 TVM coverage of the 2017 electoral campaign5.7 ConclusionsChapter 6 Times of Malta 6.1 Introduction6.2 Ownership and historical positioning6.3 Organisation structure and routines6.4 Culture6.5 Times of Malta Coverage of the 2017 Electoral Campaign6.6 ConclusionsChapter 7 Conclusion: The construction of news in a polarised state7.1 Polarisation and advocacy7.2 A different perspective of pluralism7.3 Proximity and scale7.4 Journalist agency7.5 Conclusions: and weaknesses of the Maltese media systemAppendices Appendix 1 Disclosure of the position of the researcher