Information services for newspaper establishments with case studies of four Maltese establishments

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to analyze the major infonnation services used by newspaper establishments with a focus on the Maltese scene. The major information source focused on will be the special library (if any) present within the establishment, the way it is run, its functions and objectives, as well as the use the journalists make of this service. Other sources analyzed are the foreign information services to which the establishment subscribes. Again the dissertation will take a look at the major functions and the uses to which these services are submitted. Part One will study the theoretical aspect of special libraries for journalists, the reason for calling them information services, the role of the information manager. It will also take a look at the pros and cons of automating the information service. Part Two will focus on four major newspaper establishments in Malta Independence Print; Union Press; Standard Publications Ltd. and Allied Newspapers Ltd. This study will analyze how each establishment works and how they differ from each other in researching their st01ies. The case studies will focus on how local news, foreign news and features are produced and what kind of info1mation service the journalists in question need and what they actually use. Part Two will also include a study of the photo library and its retrieval system. An analysis of a sample of all the newspapers produced by these establishments within one chosen week will show the percentage of local, foreign and feature stories produced by each different paper and how this reflects the existence or not of adequate information services within the establishment.