The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM) has pushed back against Opposition Leader Alex Borg after he agreed with the idea that journalists should require a warrant to practise their profession.Borg expressed his agreement with the proposal earlier this week, but the IĠM has now come out against such a system, arguing that placing barriers on who can become a journalist could ultimately harm both the media sector and Malta’s democracy.The Institute pointed towards the wide variety of academic, professional and cultural backgrounds found within journalism, arguing that this diversity is one of the profession’s strengths.“The beauty of journalism is that it is open to everyone; there are no stereotypes,” the IĠM said.“This is important for the sector, as it helps ensure that a variety of stories are being pursued.”However, the Institute argued that keeping journalism accessible goes beyond ensuring diversity within newsrooms, saying it is also a democratic issue.“Journalists have power, and power should be accessible. That might make us uncomfortable, but it is the only way to ensure the media sector as a whole represents the ideas of different communities that make up this small island.”The IĠM said this is ultimately why it opposes the introduction of warrants for journalists.“Warrants make journalism far less accessible as a job and would lead to a pool of journalists who write and think the same – to the detriment of the sector and our country’s democracy.”The statement places the Institute at odds with Borg on how journalism should be regulated, with the IĠM arguing that greater barriers to entering the profession risk reducing the diversity of voices working within Malta’s media landscape.What do you make of this?•