Malta blogs

Bilingual writer Immanuel Mifsud is blogging more often these days. This is good news for the Maltese blogosphere. In his latest entry he laments the state of the Maltese press and expresses agreement with last Sunday's Saviour Balzan editorial for MaltaToday. He urges the creation of 'a critical, biting newspaper which offers an alternative to the mainstream print'. He also regrets the lack of independent Maltese language channels in the national media. A couple of years ago I had participated in an attempt to fundraise for a new Maltese newspaper unsuccessfully. With a high tension referendum and general election on the horizon , the timing was not right. However, as Immanuel reminds us, there is a huge empty space that needs to be filled. In his 'comments from everyday life' blog Mifsud discusses the phenomenon of Maltese blogging. From Immanuel's blog:

The recent proliferation of Maltese blogs is an interesting social and intellectual phenomenon. While some of these blogs are merely diary-like posts fulfilling the owners' narcissitic and exhibitionist needs, others are creating a discourse which is not yet to be found anywhere in the local print. It seems that writing a blog gives one the freedom that the Maltese print is still denying to citizens who, for different reasons, have distanced themselves from mainstream journalism and intellectual engagement..

A number of blogs, particularly those owned by Mark Vella, Toni Sant and Robert Micallef, even if on varying degrees, are committed alternatives to what Maltese journalists are feeding the public. This new, emerging chattering class, seems to have promulgated a no-confidence vote in Maltese print, and have seeked new pastures, which presumably defy the red felt-pen of some hidden censor ready to file reports and send them to court once the 'borders' are crossed.

It is also very interesting to note that a good number of these weblogs are written by Maltese emigrees. Mark Vella is based in Strasbourg, Toni Sant in the UK, and there are others, like Pierre Mejlaq and a certain gybejxi in Brussels, and Sharon Spiteri currently studying in Scotland. What imbues these Maltese emigrees to write weblogs loaded with comments about the country they left? Perhaps they are carried by a sense of freedom and detachment, making it easier for them to look at what they left behind, the way James Joyce was when he wrote Dubliners in some shabby room far away from his native country.


Xemx Wisq Sabiha - The Maltese blogosphere welcomes author Guze Stagno. Expect some loud, witty entertainment in Maltese! Stagno interview here.