A historical insight into Gozitan periodicals : 1871-1991

Abstract

This dissertation presented to the Faculty of Arts is a historical insight into Gozitan periodicals from 1871 up to 1991, covering a period of 120 years. The dissertation begins with a study of printing in Gozo as a general background. Then the periodicals were divided into three categories, religious, political and social. This helped me to organize my dissertation better. The main aim of this study was to bear witness to the history of Gozo as it is revealed in these periodicals with its deep religious convictions, often precarious economic situation, social conflict and hopes, and aspirations. The main problem was in the first chapter because of the lack of written evidence about printing in Gozo. I had to revert to interviews with elderly citizens who could remember early printing in Gozo and people involved in it. They were not always ready to talk and some of them were a little bit suspicious. Others however gave me their full support and cooperation and for this I like to thank them publicly. Another problem was how to class periodicals according to their inspiration (social ,religious, political). Sometimes it was difficult to draw a dividing line because they seem to overlap. Certain periodicals were not available at the Gozo public library and I had to look them up in various institutions or at the residents of private individuals. Such for example the periodicals published by the Savina church.