Study Finds Structural Barriers and Stereotypes Persist in Maltese Journalism
- Regine Nguini
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
Despite migrants making up over one fifth of the population, media narratives remain dominated by stereotypes and emergency framing, according to new research.
Migration is a structural reality in Malta, where foreign-born residents now account for 21% of the population. Yet media coverage has struggled to keep pace with this transformation, continuing to rely on crisis-driven narratives that marginalise migrant voices. This is one of the key conclusions of the Malta National Report produced within the framework of the MILD project (More Correct Information, Less Discrimination).
The study, based on qualitative interviews with journalists, editors, academics, civil society actors and community representatives, examines how migration and diversity are represented in Maltese media, as well as access to the journalistic profession and existing practices to counter discrimination and hate speech.
persistent invisibility of migrant voices
A central finding is the persistent invisibility of migrant voices. While migrants frequently feature in news stories, they are rarely given space to speak for themselves. As one participant explained, “You’ll have a migrant speaking for two seconds, and then the rest of the story is taken over by politicians or police.” This imbalance reinforces narratives in which migrants appear as objects of debate rather than active members of society.
Participants also pointed to the dominance of crisis and emergency framing, particularly around sea arrivals. Even though residence permits issued to non-EU workers far exceed asylum applications, migration coverage remains overwhelmingly associated with boats, borders and security.
Visual representation plays a powerful role in this process. “Even when the article is about integration or education, you still see a photo of a dinghy full of people,” one interviewee noted. “It doesn’t match the story, but it’s what audiences expect.”
Access to journalism itself emerged as another major concern. According to the report, people with migrant backgrounds face structural barriers to entering the profession, including language requirements, informal recruitment practices and a lack of diversity within newsrooms. One
participant observed that “migrants are often the subject of reporting, but they are rarely part of the teams producing the news.” This lack of representation, interviewees argued, directly affects how stories are framed and whose perspectives are considered legitimate.
Lack of formal policies, training programmes or editorial
guidelines on inclusive language and representation.
While awareness of racism and discrimination has increased in recent years, the report finds that institutional responses remain limited. Many media organisations lack formal policies, training programmes or editorial guidelines on inclusive language and representation. “There’s goodwill, but not much structure behind it,” one participant said. “It depends a lot on individual attitudes rather than institutional policy.”
At the same time, the research highlights emerging good practices. Independent journalists, civil society organisations and migrant-led media initiatives are experimenting with more ethical and inclusive storytelling. These initiatives prioritise lived experiences, avoid sensationalist imagery and involve migrants directly in content creation. “When you show respect in your reporting, people open up more,” one journalist reflected.
As migration becomes an increasingly visible part of Maltese society, the study argues that journalism must move beyond crisis narratives and stereotypes, embracing more accurate, contextual and human-centred approaches. Doing so, the report concludes, is essential not only for fair representation, but for strengthening public trust and social cohesion.