The death of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in the international press

Abstract

This essay scanned a representative but vast selection of the international press in relation to journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder and subsequent press reports about subjects she had investigated. An introduction to who Daphne Caruana Galizia was is presented, along with a list of media models for all countries. The latter was done to comprehend the media culture in the countries analysed. The study then scrutinised the articles on a subject-by subject basis, including the assassination, the effect the murder had on journalism in Malta, the Panama Papers revelations with respect to Daphne Caruana Galizia’s work, the SOCAR saga, the murder investigation and arrests, the Individual Investor Program, of which Daphne Caruana Galizia was a harsh critic, and the makeshift monument that was dedicated to Daphne Caruana Galizia. Each of these subjects was examined as to the frequency of reports in the international press, the style in which they were reported and what details were included. A discussion on the study follows, concluding that several reports were similar since they were sourced from international news agencies. A brief academic insight into news agencies then forms part of the discussion. One other major aspect resulting from the study is the fact that most sources quoted in international reports tended to follow a one-sided view, often those highly critical of the Maltese government. Other details identified in the discussion include the interesting collaboration of several international news media houses, under the name The Daphne Project, and the comparison of the international press culture with the Maltese polarised model. The author concluded that the analysis broached a highly controversial and sensitive subject and revealed that the international press took a keen interest in the subject. However, the reports did not tend to reflect the atmosphere that prevailed in Malta itself.