On 16 October 2017, Daphne Caruana Galizia, the most formidable Maltese journalist of her time, was murdered by a bomb placed under her car. That bomb tore a hole right through Maltese society and politics. For over thirty years, Daphne took a pen to Maltese society and politics and, wielding it like a razor, shaved as close to the flesh as she possibly could. Her cause was democracy in its fullest sense, Daphne insisted that democracy was not just majority rule, it also comprised minority rights, checks and balances, rule of law, autonomy of the institutions, accountability and good governance. Above all, she upheld freedom of expression as the fundamental instrument through which to scrutinise authorities and hold them to account. For her pains, she was demonised and came under sustained fire for all those thirty years, but not once did she wilt or flinch. “Invicta” means “the unconquered woman” for Daphne died with pen in her hand and unyielding to the very end. To pay tribute and to commemorate Daphne’s significant contribution to democracy and to journalism, this book brings together an array of local and foreign academics, journalists and friends. It is time to reflect deeply on Daphne and her legacy.
Contributors:
Marisa Attard, artist and illustrator.
Giovanni Bonello, former judge, European Court of Human Rights.
Steve Bonello, freelance artist, cartoonist, illustrator, writer.
Godfrey Baldacchino, Professor of Sociology, University of Malta, UNESCO co-chair (Island Studies and Sustainability), University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Rev. Joseph Borg, journalist, lecturer in media ethics, University of Malta.
Andrew Borg Cardona, lawyer and journalist.
Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, international freelance journalist, President of the European Federation of Journalists.
Victor Calleja, author, blogger.
Debbie Caruana Dingli, portraitist, cartoonist.
Petra Caruana Dingli, author, senior lecturer, University of Malta.
Kristina Chetcuti, journalist, editor.
Joseph Anthony Debono, lecturer, University of Malta, classicist.
Mikela Fenech Pace, lecturer, University of Malta.
Henry Frendo, Professor of History, University of Malta.
Jonathan Freedland, journalist, author, broadcaster.
Ranier Fsadni, lecturer, University of Malta.
Luke Harding, journalist, writer.
Douglas W. Kmiec, former US Ambassador to Malta, chair in constitutional law and human rights, Pepperdine University, California.
Godfrey Leone Ganado, former Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Malta.
Ġorġ Mallia, cartoonist, Head of Department, Media and Communications, University of Malta.
Caroline Muscat, independent journalist, former News Editor, The Times of Malta.
Paul Sant Cassia, Professor of Anthropology, University of Malta, former Curator, Anthropology Collections, Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University Lecturer, Cambridge University, Lecturer, University of Durham.
Kenneth Wain, Professor of Philosophy, University of Malta.
Jacques René Zammit, blogger, lawyer, European Court of Justice, Luxembourg.
Joseph Anthony Debono holds a number of degrees in History and Classics from the University of Malta. He taught these subjects at multiple levels, from Form 1 (Year 7) to final year university students. He was one of the founders of the Malta Classics Association and was involved in the formulation of a new qualification in Classics at post-secondary level. His main interests are Classical Greek, Latin, and the culture and history of the ancient world
Caroline Muscat is an independent journalist and the former News Editor of The Times of Malta. She entered the field of journalism after more than a decade of involvement in campaigns and activism on human rights, social justice and environmental issues on a national and international level. She played a critical role in securing partnership with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on the Panama Papers. Following the ensuing scandals, involving members at the highest level of government, she resigned to join the Opposition's campaign against corruption. Her work has received a number of awards, including Best News Journalist and Best Environmental Journalist in 2015, to top awards received by the European Commission on work against discrimination. She held the post of Deputy Chair of the Institute of Maltese Journalists. She has a Master's Degree in Mass Communications (UK) and a professional diploma in Journalism (UK).
Mogens Blicher Bjerregård is an international freelance journalist and is the President of the European Federation of Journalists. He is a trained journalist who has contributed to newspapers, radio and television. For the past three decades, he has been active in trade unionism and also in working for press freedom. For 16 years, between 1999 and 2015, he was the President of the Danish Union of Journalists, in which position he worked to modernise the organisation, and fought for authors' rights, revision of ethical standards, and new media support mechanisms among other things. He is currently involved in the process of founding the International Media Support, the co-signing of the MoU of the Council of Europe Safety Platform. He is a board member of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and is also involved in the Project on Press Freedom Issues for the Nordic Council of Ministers.
