Malta is facing a crisis of governance. There has never been a more urgent need for fearless journalism that speaks truth to power, and yet we are constantly hit by libel cases and threats intended to silence us.

You stand with us because you see us standing up for you. And our efforts have not gone unnoticed.

“Please support The Shift in their courageous pursuit of journalism that others don’t dare touch in Malta,” said Rebecca Vincent, UK Bureau Director for Reporters Without Borders.

The Shift faces regular libel suits from governmental, political and commercial entities who want to silence us. Now international SLAPP lawsuits, intended to financially cripple news organisations, have taken this threat to Europe and beyond.

As Socialist MEP Ana Gomes said in the video: “This is not just about Malta. It’s about us all in the EU. That’s why The Shift News really plays a crucial role in fighting for freedom of expression, freedom of the media and freedom to investigate corruption and expose the corrupt.”

The number of international press freedom organisations supporting The Shift in this video shows the validity of our contribution to investigating truth and holding power to account.

EU Representative for the US-based Committee for the Protection of Journalists, Tom Gibson, said: “I support The Shift News because it’s every European’s right to know the truth and to hold power to account”.

“I support The Shift for its ground-breaking investigative journalism in Malta in the wake of the assassination of the country’s most important investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia,” said Sarah Clarke, Head of Article 19 in Europe and Central Asia.

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) said, “The Shift News is an important voice for independent journalism remaining in Malta, and because investigative journalism matters for Europe”.

“Only informed people can be free people,” said the editor of Exit.al, an independent news portal holding power to account in Albania, where the press is facing similar challenges.

They are joined by readers of The Shift News in Malta who state The Shift News is an important and fierce independent news outlet in Malta fighting to uphold democracy when “our politicians have let us down badly”.

They echo the stand by Lori Amy, Academic Director and Human Rights Coordinator at the Public Trust Autonomy, who said: “I support The Shift News because freedom depends on the courage of the investigative journalists who bring us the truth. Truth is under attack by the rich and the powerful who use propaganda to divide and to confuse us. Unite for truth”.

We’re on the front lines of this battle — but we need your help.

Please donate to The Shift News today.