Malta has been ranked the second worst-performing country in the European Union for media pluralism, according to a new report by the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom.The Media Pluralism Monitor 2026 placed Malta in the “high risk” category with an overall score of 71%, behind only Hungary (75%). Cyprus was the only other EU country to fall into the high-risk category.The report points to a number of long-standing concerns, including political influence over the media, limited transparency around media ownership, weaknesses in Freedom of Information access, legal threats against journalists and an increasingly challenging environment for independent journalism.It also highlights concerns over the independence of Malta’s public broadcaster and Broadcasting Authority, as well as the country’s reliance on a small advertising market and the growing influence of major digital platforms on how people consume news.While Malta has introduced anti-SLAPP legislation in line with EU rules, researchers said further reforms are needed, including stronger protections for journalists, greater transparency and the implementation of recommendations from the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.Across Europe, the report found that media pluralism continues to face growing challenges, with political influence and market concentration among the main risks to independent journalism.Do you think enough is being done to protect independent journalism in Malta?•