Editorial [On legal journalism]

Abstract

'La pubblicazione di periodici locali de trattino esclusivamente del Diritto e dei Tribunali deve dirsi rarissima e di assai breve durata'. When thus assessing a lamentable yet outstanding characteristic of legal publishing in Malta, Sir Arturo Mercieca was, in 1955, directing his attention to the fate of a 'Law Journal' "di cent'anni fa" , the 'Foglio Legale di Malta' of 1846. What is indeed unfortunate however, is that the above observation may be as valid in 1983 as it was thirty odd years ago, for, looking back over the years, a certain pattern is easily discernible in the life cycle of Maltese legal periodicals. Initial enthusiasm would suffice (more often than not thanks to individual initiative) to ensure publication of a number of issues which would then peter out in direct proportion to the waning interest on both the part of the publisher and that of the market.