Multimedia in Malta : a qualitative investigation of infrastructure, plans and opportunities

Abstract

Is the socio-economic environment in Malta propitious to the development of a multimedia content creation and distribution industry? Will such an industry develop in Malta? In attempting to answer these questions, this study presents a "freeze frame" of the situation in Malta in the period 1995-1997 (the period of the research). The point is to determine whether the infrastructure required for the development of multimedia in Malta is in place, what the current status of multimedia development is, what future plans firms operating in this sector have, and what local opportunities exist. In this manner, this study can serve as a development benchmark for Malta. The first chapter sets out the problem being researched and, through a review of the literature on the subject, defines the concept of multimedia. It argues that as multimedia has its roots in industry, it is defined by developments in industry. A discussion of the methodology is presented in chapter two. Qualitative research methods, similar to those used by investigative journalists, are shown to be the most appropriate for this investigation. The relevant infrastructure issues, broken into broad categories -physical, economic, legal, and social- are examined in the next chapter in order to evaluate whether the infrastructure for multimedia development is in place.