Web registration clause in proposed media bill to be removed

The controversial news and current affairs web-registration requirement in the newly proposed Media and Defamation Bill is to be removed, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici announced yesterday.

Traditional news portal, such as The Malta Independent Online, will be re able to register themselves on a voluntary basis.

Minister Bonnici was in attendance at a Question and Answer session with the local media to hear its proposals on the conditions laid out in the revamped press laws.

The three English language and independent media houses all expressed concern regarding the increase of maximum civil damages from €11,700 to €20,000. They proposed capping the damages at €15,000 and retaining the services of the court of Magistrates rather than the cases being heard before judges.

In addition, a proposal on the side of the government related to the introduction of mediation, where it said that should a person who feels libelled receive a published apology from a newsroom as a result of mediation, but still wants to go ahead with a civil suit, the damages would be capped at €7,000.

This was met with some resistance by the media outlets, however further discussions are still to take place.

Dr Bonnici also said that the protection of sources was to be extended to anyone doing journalistic activity.