News values decisions in Maltese newsrooms : a case study on the reporting of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia

Abstract

This research puts the spotlight on news values, specifically on the news values decisions that takes place in Maltese newsrooms. The main inquiry in this dissertation focuses on what makes it as news and what does not. This study also looks closely at what can influence news values. Media owners can possibly impinge on the world view of journalists and they can consciously push forward their agenda. Malta’s media system is particular given the fiery polarisation in the political sphere. In a bid to get a third-eye look on news values, the author obtained the views of a group of seasoned foreign journalists on news values. The assassination of investigative journalist/blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia on October 23, 2017 is the case study this work deals with. The analyses presented here looks at how the news values of Maltese journalists were affected when reporting the assassination. From the reactions of the respondents, the author sensed that on a personal level, they could not help but feel emotional given the magnitude of this news. In fact, the emotions tended even to seep into the reporting. Reporting the arraignment of the three suspects charged with the murder, one could see that the devil is in the detail and, in this case, detail took on its own news value. The author looked also at the front pages the day after the assassination and the front pages after the arraignment of the suspects and how the news was transmitted to the public.