1 Freedom of Expression, Demonization and Deification: Continuities and Disruptions in the Maltese Media System. Carmen Sammut, University of Malta Introduction Journalism, with its practices and values is somewhat dependent on contextual factors. Idiosyncrasies within borders prevail in spite of the all-pervasive disruptive technologies that have shaken some traditional practices. Broadly, the Maltese media still neatly fit within the “polarized and pluralist” concept presented by Hallin and Mancini (2004) even if the islands were not included in their original study (Sammut, 2007). Media in Southern Europe are deemed to share common characteristics such as advocacy reporting, the political instrumentalization of privately owned media, the politicization of public broadcasting and regulatory frameworks and also limited autonomy and stalled professionalism (Papathanassopoulos, 2007). In Malta party newspapers initially had strong ideological leanings but since the 1990s ideologies have faded incrementally because the main parties adopted a middle-of-the-road position and hold broadly similar outlooks on a number of issues that include social welfare, education, foreign policy and economic vision. The demise of ideology coincided both with the period when parties acquired broadcasting stations and with the rise of the internet and the social media. As a result, these fast became the main channels to construct new forms of “them” and “us” distinctions. To date these media organisations reinforce and broaden political divisions. The party brand became increasingly blended with the image of party leaders. Disconnected from ideology, electoral support is more dependent on persuasion. Political communication tactics are employed to construct prevailing narratives and counter-narratives. Those with the best narrative win. Newspapers had actually served this role since their nascence. Broadcasting had been under the influence first of colonial rulers and then of the Maltese state. With the introduction of pluralism in broadcasting in 1991, the two main political parties (i.e. the Nationalist Party,