Malta's politicised media is still talking to its mass followers rather than the individual

There is much that is idiosyncratic about Malta. None more so than the media structures on the island. Over the past 20 years, the two major political parties, the Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) and Partit Laburista (PL) have developed fully-fledged broadcast, print and online operations as part of their communication strategy to target voters. Where in many countries, advocacy journalism is frowned upon or even legislated against, in Malta the model has been turned on its head. Political propaganda is alive and kicking, through the direct ownership of media structures by political parties, whose objectives are inevitably to exert pressure to eliminate autonomy, even at the expense of objectivity.

But are these structures effective – if the objective is inevitably to influence, garner support, and ultimately to enable the party to secure or retain power?

Reuben Sciberras has recently completed an M.Sc. in Public Relations from the Department of Film & Media Studies at the University of Stirling. His thesis, Preaching to the Converted? – Malta’s Political Party-Owned Media and Public Relations Strategy makes for fascinating reading.

This study seeks to find answers to three thorny questions:

1. Are party-owned media organisations addressing all their publics which their owners need to address as a political party?

2. Do journalists working with these politically-owned media organisations feel part of the owning party’s PR effort?

3. Do the parties understand that they could be ‘preaching to the converted’ – instead of focusing on other publics, such as alienated party supporters, floating voters and disillusioned supporters of the opposing party?

Framed within theories on various media and political communication issues, the study analyses the power structures affecting media in the context of political control from within the owning organisation as well as the credibility and reputation of the media as seen by the voters and the journalists who work within. It also discusses the communication models being used by the political parties in relation to their audiences, and the latter’s presumed loyalty towards the former.

The results of the study show that the strength of the ‘independent media’ – the media not directly owned by a political party – by far exceeds any effort of the politically-owned media. As such, the political parties are investing a lot of time and money in their own media organisation where they not only are preaching to the converted, but also only to a fraction of those loyal party supporters.

Mr Sciberras argues that the political parties need to invest in ‘new and innovative means to assist them in addressing the independent media which are crucial in their quest to increase voter support.’

In 2010, we could also ask some more questions of the dominant media structures on the island:

1. Why do they persist in one-way broadcasting, when all of us with an Internet connection now have tools with which we can engage in more meaningful conversations and relationships, which can take place without the patronage of a political party and its media?

2. How independent is the so-called ‘independent’ media?

3. Are political parties as relevant as they used to be in our society, when like so many other media entities, they risk being disintermediated by citizens using their own trusted networks to work, collaborate and form their own opinion of  ’the truth’?’

4. Are Malta’s islander systems of power and patronage so all-pervasive as to keep the political propaganda machinery in place, irrespective of the powerful economic, cultural and social arguments for its dissolution?

You can download Mr Sciberras’s dissertation from this link.

Photo: Walter lo Cascio

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No way we're opening for the next two weeks!

Anyone who has holidayed in continental Europe in August, especially in cities, will know that many bars and restaurants are shut, sporting notices such as ‘Ferie’ or ‘in Vacanza’ in Italy, for example. Just as you, the unsuspecting tourist arrives, those who should be making a buck out of you at this peak summer holiday time of year have chosen to go on holiday too. So what happens in August in Malta, holiday islands in sun?

What to Expect in the August Shutdown
The next two weeks are Malta’s peak, local summer holiday time of year. If the father of the family hasn’t taken a break yet, he will now be shipping himself and family somewhere like a holiday flat or second home in Gozo or up North to St Paul’s Bay, abroad, or if very lucky, aboard a motor cruiser island hopping to Sicily. Mid August often sees a change in the weather to humid, sweaty, still grey days that promise rain. We can see the odd freak flash flood storm as a taste of autumn rains to come.

The summer recess in Malta moves in mysterious ways. We might not have ‘Chiuso per Ferie’ on our windows as our Italian neighbours do, but the habitual two weeks’ shutdown does leave its mark. Here’s how:

The good news
Everything a tourist needs stays open. Local businesses know that this is the time of year to make almost all their profits if they rely on tourist bucks from sun, sea and sand seeking visitors. None of the habits of Italian city restaurateurs here.

The bad news:
If you’ve moved to Malta recently, you might not know that a lot of firms – even those in service industries such as advertising, and retail businesses such as kitchen and bathroom showrooms, for instance, will be firmly shut for almost two weeks either side of 15 August. So, if you forgot to order that spare part for the washing machine, or need a new tap, like I do, you will have to wait till well after the 15th. Even then, next deliveries after the summer recess can take often until end September or longer to materialise in Malta. You will notice too that supermarket shelves may run out of favourite brands as shipments slow in August.

Although Malta has a dwindling number of manufacturing plants, the tradition of closing up the office still holds even if a firm doesn’t have a production line. The knock-on effect of the shutdown ripples through the economy. We’ve said before that the public sector is hard to reach on the phone after 12.00 from mid June to mid September, but I doubt you’ll get anywhere until September if you try to call a government office now with a query.

The other bad news is that we are all left to battle for the best places on the beach, best restaurant tables and best parking places as the islands teem with holidaymakers, locals and visitors. For some insane reason, we like to take our holidays now, altogether in a pressured two weeks. Malta’s schools don’t go back till around 24 September or later, so we’ve plenty more time to take a break.

The traditional August shutdown, while not strictly needed for most firms these days, is a habit hard to break. Maybe we can blame it on Malta’s most important public holiday, Santa Marija, which falls on the 15 August. The day is in Malta’s psyche; not only because Malta is predominantly Catholic, but also because it marks the end of Malta’s second ‘great siege’ when a small, war-torn convoy of Allied forces’ supply ships limped into Grand Harbour relieving the islands. More on that in our second August holiday article to come.

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Story of a business (not) foretold. A fashion & fabrics' retailer that documents Malta's commercial & social history

Take a walk through Valletta’s back streets, and you’ll come across old shop fronts with wonderful names, often faded or peeling with the patina of the years. Most are shuttered up relics of once busy shops. Some sport the names of the partners in the family firms while others prefix their wares or services with adjectives we’d rarely see in adverts today, such as ‘economical’ or ‘bespoke’. These shop fronts are the signs of Valletta of old, the ‘Vanishing Valletta’ documented by Maltese photographer David Pisani.

Not many of these old shops that were once the lifeblood of Valletta a century or more ago live on today. But one family of retailers can trace its history back that far; its story parallels that of Malta through World Wars, slumps and booms. It can document also consumers’ changing tastes in fashion and furnishings from Victoriana to 1930s’ modernism and 1950s’ post-war utility and beyond.

The firm, now run by the grandsons and great grandchildren of the founding brothers, is Camilleri Paris Mode, and it’s just turned 120. Once called ‘À La Ville de Lyon’, and located on the corner of Merchants Street and St John’s Square tucked next to the Co-Cathedral, it stocked general drapery and advertised that is was a “naval & military contractor”. According to an old newspaper cutting, its wares included “silks, woolen, cotton, linen goods, damask, tapestry, the latest novelties, and faldettas” (the traditional hooded cloak women wore in Malta and Gozo, known also as the għonnella).

The business witnessed its ups and downs and the story of the Camilleri family mirrors that of Malta. It grasped the market in the Fin de siècle era when it imported the lastest in Parisian fashion accessories to adorn Malta’s well-heeled society ladies, as well as ensuring wisely that it offered value and service to all strata of clientele; it saw a brother almost emigrate to Argentina; it saw the family business split and diverge; it had hard times following the First World War; and it saw its premises and the city around it all but destroyed by World War II.

As it celebrates 120 years in trade, Camilleri Paris Mode – its name still resonating with its history as a purveyor of Paris fashions – is no longer solely about fabrics. The firm’s now three shops, one still on Merchants’ Street, offer also wedding services (lists, gowns and accessories), design and manufacture of sofas, wines and delicacies, and lifestyle and living ranges suited to every interior from baroque palaces to marina penthouses.

Its nerve centre is thoroughly contemporary and housed in spanking new premises in Rabat. But appearances deceive. If there are two adjectives that describe CPM (as those in the know call it) today, just as 120 years ago, I’d say they are ‘bespoke’ and ‘fine’. Whether you’re calling in to get a single bottle of wine or talking about the interior of an entire flat, the family and its family of staff give you the kind of old-world service that you thought went out, well, a hundred years ago. It survived, when many shut up shop around it. There’s a lesson in that somewhere…

Photo: Rubelli Fabrics, courtesy of Camilleri Paris Mode.

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Rebecca Cremona, 26, film director and scriptwriter, has packed a lot into life so far. She studied comparative film and literature at the University of Warwick in the UK and went on to do her second degree in film directing at the American Film Institute and Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. A short film she completed in early 2009, ‘Magdalene’ (trailer above), won her a Student EMMY and a Director’s Guild of America student award.

Rebecca is back on the Islands to tackle some contentious, contemporary issues in a Malta she feels is still finding its way post colonialism. Her project will be Malta’s first, home-grown, full-length feature film for the international market. Here, Rebecca lets us into her world, which she says is not all tinsel but more hard graft and determination. Here’s her story, ‘uncut’, in her own words.

1. When did you realise that film for you was more about doing than watching?
Whenever I am asked this question I remember a girls’ night when I was 16. We were watching ‘The Insider’ and the girls were chatting, nibbling away on snacks, and swooning over Russell Crowe. I was far more boring, and simply sat in front of the TV watching the film intently. One of the girls asked me what was capturing my attention. I told her it was the reflection on the car and how precisely it interacted with the camera and actor movement.

She looked at me stunned, called me a freak (rightly so), and still makes fun of me till this day. I think it’s safe to say that although at the time I knew I was into film – all my pocket money went on film magazines, video rentals and cinema tickets – it was at that point that I realised my interest was more than just a hobby. In fact, it is very rare for me to get engrossed in the story of a film. I am more likely to analyse its building blocks – the performance, editing, cinematography etc. Also, ‘makings of’ and interviews with filmmakers were always a very important aspect of a film for me – some times more interesting than the film itself!

2. What draws you to the medium?
What I love about film is that it’s a combination of art forms: literature, photography, music, acting, painting, philosophy…the list is endless. Through a film you create a little universe in more ways than one. First and foremost you are creating a universe on the screen, but even the work environment of every film is a unique universe within itself. Every film is a different experience you plunge into – from the subject matter you’re dealing with to the cast and crew who you are surrounded by.

I also love the fact that films – the mainstream ones at least – are watched all over the world. I remember going to the Galapagos where ‘Armageddon’ saved me from lack of conversation, because it was the only tangible thing in common I shared with a local. I suppose what I am saying is that it is film’s diversity which draws me to it. Of course the diversity also means that it is not the most stable of mediums to work within, however it is worth the risk in my opinion.

3. What films are special to you.
I always find it difficult to make a short list because there are so many different reasons to love a film. But I’ll try…
Y tu mama tambien – for me this film is entertaining, intelligent and very well done.
‘Monsoon Wedding’ – no matter how often I watch it, it moves me.
‘Spirit of the Beehive’ – I’ve never seen anything quite like the haunting atmosphere it manages to create.
‘In the mood for love’ – just an incredibly beautiful film.
‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’ – a story which gives you insight into what it is to be a human being, for better and for worse.
‘Thelma and Louise’ – a genre film which defies genre, very clever.
Then there are films which on a rational level I do not think are all that great, but for some reason they resonate with me. Examples of this would be ‘Stealing Beauty’ and ‘Great Expectations’ (Cuaron’s version).

As a general rule it is fair to say that I gravitate more towards art house and independent films, however, I still watch, and for the most part enjoy, mainstream cinema. I found ‘The Hangover’ hilarious, for instance.

4. Tell us about your first big break
Making a film is creatively, logistically and financially difficult. Because of this, every film you make which allows you to step up one ring of the ladder is a big break. Your first film is important because it will always remain your first film. The film that gets you into film school is important because it is likely to be taken as a foundation piece. The film that gets you into your first film festival will introduce you to the joys and torments of your primary bloodline – your audience. The film that gets you your first award is likely to spearhead your identity as a filmmaker. Then of course there are films which are more important to you personally than they are to anyone else and vice versa. I feel the need to go on this little tangent because becoming a filmmaker is a long process, and it is important to appreciate the importance of each step otherwise it is easy to give up or take short cuts which might do more harm than good.

If I were to answer your question directly I would say ‘Magdalene’ (see trailer above). Magdalene is a short film which I completed in the beginning of 2009. I consider it to be the ‘big break’ because it got me some prestigious awards, including a Student EMMY and a Director’s Guild of America student award. Just as important, it was picked up for distribution, so it will have a shelf life of seven years across different platforms (TV, iTunes, cinema etc) worldwide.

Rebecca Cremona and crew on the set of Magdalene

5. What was Los Angeles like – Tinseltown or a Tough town or both?
Definitely both. The good thing in L.A is that everyone is in the filmmaking business – from the waiter who brings you your coffee, to the big shot exec in the jaguar stopped by your side at a red light. Because you are surrounded by the industry at all times, and the turn around of work is so frequent, it feels like making films is a very normal thing to do, and indeed making them is easier due to the availability of resources.

The bad thing there is the same as the good one – that everyone is in the filmmaking business! Sometimes this makes you feel like you’re one in a sea of thousands, which you are. But many will tell you, to make it, or even simply survive, in the film industry it is not enough to be talented, you need to have the right attitude and a lot of resilience. And although it is necessary to surround yourself with people in the industry, it is equally necessary to mingle with those who have nothing to do with it – both as a source of inspiration and as a means of regaining perspective. For there certainly is Tinsel, and when it’s showered on you it’s important to remember it’s just tinsel.

6. You are embarking on what will be the first, full-length feature film for the international market made by a Maltese director/scriptwriter. Why choose a Malta story to tell? What draws you back here?

I get really annoyed when people say that being Maltese is a disadvantage in the grand scheme of things. I think in an increasingly globalised world, in which cultures are merging sometimes into a faceless molten pot, it is important for us to explore, express and safeguard our particular identity. It is also the thing which allows us to have an edge over countries with populations of millions, as cultural uniqueness is becoming an increasingly rare feature.

In fact, one of the strongest factors which made me want to be a filmmaker was that I wanted to tell and show Malta. Most imminently for nostalgic purposes – the Malta of my childhood is disappearing a little every day and being buried by buildings which look like computer renderings.

But on a more fundamental level, I really feel that we still have a post-colonial identity crisis, which we haven’t addressed. So although I read my first degree in England, and my second degree in Los Angeles, the intention was always to come back and tell a Maltese story. I think through the arts (and very prominently, architecture) we can discover this identity and explore what its contemporary expression is. When one thinks of Malta we think of the legacy of the Knights or the rural scenes captured by Edward Caruana Dingli, and this is all well and good. But it’s about time that we have a strong contemporary counterpart to that which is Maltese, and not an imported generic ‘modernity’.

7. Who have been your mentors on the way?
There’s a reason why award acceptance speeches are so long, and that’s because the amount of guidance and support filmmakers absorb is huge! But I’d love to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of peers, mentors and all those who’ve been supportive of my career so far.

Of course without the faith and support of my parents I would have never had the opportunity to follow my passion. Spielberg and his crew (my first proper set experience was on ‘Munich’) have been essential in advising me and giving me continued training and support. The faculty at Art Center are absolutely incredible, and although I never went to the University of Malta, the Film department here has been extremely helpful. I am happy to say, that this goes for most of the other local institutions, like the film commission and the film fund. Additionally, Bank of Valletta and Air Malta are sponsoring the feature film which is currently in development. All this support – infrastructural, educational, and moral – is so vital. Just the other day I was injected with the means, energy and morale to move forward by a woman who has nothing to do with film, but who simply believes in film and the work my crew and I are doing. I will be eternally grateful to her. As I am for the support of many others.

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Washing machine died? Then Malta Trade Fair is the place to find a new one.

It’s come round again. Malta’s annual summer biggie – its Trade Fair, which runs 24 June – 4 July, 2010.

Despite the name, this is a pure consumer event, and paradise for anyone hell bent on finding that discounted TV or dishwasher they’ve been thinking about for months. At the Malta International Trade Fair at Ta’ Qali (centre of Malta, off Attard-Mdina road) you’ll find almost every supplier, shop and business conveniently ‘under one roof’. A God-send which saves you traipsing around individual shops, in the heat, over many weeks to compare and contrast models, makes and prices.

I’ve always hated shopping with a kid in tow, especially for anything that requires brain power to decide on. But strangely enough, the annual summer Trade Fair is traditionally a big hit with Maltese families for a night out. It does check some kiddy entertainment boxes though: ice creams, junk food, freebies from stands, probably a bouncy castle and play area somewhere, loads of other kids around, an excuse to stay up late and space to run around. Parents are usually rest assured that Trade Fair prices are on offer in the shop for the fair period, so they can go back and buy in peace later on.

The Trade Fair is now in its 53rd year and going stronger than ever with 12 days, an estimated 100,000 visitors (a quarter of Malta’s population) and some 200 plus stands. Every year, there’s a novelty to draw more crowds. For 2010, Malta Fairs & Convention Centre (MFCC) has gone in for that favourite European occupation of twinning; it has linked with the Modica Fiera della Contea (in the Ragusa region of Sicily). The aim is to promote mutual wares across borders and entice Maltese buyers and sellers to gain access to the Sicilian region’s products. All very worthy, Single Market and EU sounding.

Back to basics though, and details about the Fair, times and how to get there….

When & Where?
It runs for two weeks, 24 June – 4 July at the Maltese International Trade Fair Grounds in Ta’ Qali, (between Attard and Mdina in the centre of Malta)

Getting there
Those who have difficulty in reaching Ta’ Qali by car can use public transport services specifically heading to Ta’ Qali for the two weeks of the Fair, including direct routes from St. Andrews, Cospicua, Paola, Mqabba and Cirkewwa. Full details on the MFCC site here.
Free Parking

Opening Times: 18.30 – 23.30 daily,
Entrance Fee: €3

Photo: courtesy Shola

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Foot in mouth or silver tongued?

“The problem is that so few people have the ability to get up and present well and confidently here in Malta,” said the Chairman of a leading Maltese company sitting next to me at a press event recently. “And the ones who do speak fluently usually like the sound of their own voice and don’t think about those listening.” This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this comment.

It’s a skills gap several training entities in Malta have tried to fill in recent years by running soft skills and business communications courses. The word ‘business’ is mostly redundant; if you can communicate well, you should be able to communicate anything well. And most people in business need fluency in everyday language, not specialist jargon.

But while the Maltese are among the most chatty, friendly and garrulous of nations, it seems that many people here still don’t feel at ease in front of an audience, whether at a seminar or full-blown conference, unless they’re politicians (some of whom fall into the ‘like the sound of own voice’ category anyway).

Practice makes perfect
There’s a new way to gain those much-needed, desirable communications skills that doesn’t have the word ‘business’ attached to it although it will put you in touch with like-minded professional and business people, all of whom are on the same humbling mission – to improve their comms’ skills. It’s called Toastmasters and it’s just arrived in Malta, by way of some 106 countries worldwide; the Malta Club is the latest at No. 107.

What is Toastmasters?
The name suggests the club is about honing after-dinner speaking skills, which, let’s be frank, few of us will need. What Toastmasters is about however is supporting, encouraging, guiding, praising and giving people opportunities to speak in public, at its informal yet structured club meetings. It’s akin to a self-help book put into practice in a group setting.

How it works
Groups meet for around one to two hours either weekly or monthly and all have the same, pretty basic agenda of:

• Prepared speeches: giving people the chance to prepare, rehearse and the deliver speeches in front of fellow members;
• Speech evaluations: members give constructive, supportive feedback on each other’s performances.
• Impromptu speaking: a ‘just a minute’ approach which sees members speaking off the cuff for a couple of minutes on topics of general interest.

Steve Holmes, a former Watch Manager with the London Fire Brigade who moved to Gozo around two years ago, brought Toastmasters to Malta. He explains why it works so well in comparison to many commercial courses we can attend: “Toastmasters is a more relaxed way to get to grips with becoming a good speaker and presenter. Since we meet regularly, around once a month, we can see ourselves and our fellow members progress over time. We can take on board appraisal and implement and practice skills in a way that we just can’t do on an intense, one-off training course.”

Spin-off Benefits
Toastmasters is foremost a club, so it brings with it many networking opportunities. The local group already numbers around 20 members drawn from most professions and sectors (when the group grows larger, it will split into two local branches, or more). Steve is keen to stress that Toastmasters is for anyone over 18 who wants to improve their speaking skills – “It’s not a business club, it’s a practical club. But no doubt there are benefits from hobnobbing informally with people from all walks of life at Toastmasters”.

Further Info on Toastmasters:
Contact Club President, Steve Holmes on tel: 2099 2948; or mob; 7931 6769. Email: Steve Holmes at info@schfiresafety.com
There is a small annual membership fee. For details, contact Steve.

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Is it the news or the paper that I value most?

I live online and rarely buy a hard copy newspaper these days anywhere, let alone in Malta. The last time I bought one was to make papier-mâché. So last Sunday was an exception. I headed out at crack of dawn to my local sell-it-all shop to grab a copy of the Sunday Times of Malta. It sells out by 8am usually.

I was lured by the prospect of some erroneous headlines; a friend told me a couple of days ago that according to a headline in one local paper the ‘Torries’, not the ‘Tories’, won the British election. The beauty of print is that an error remains an error. Remember the Australian recipe book published by Penguin that was pulled last month because one of its recipes had an ingredient called ‘freshly-ground black people’? It’s not just in Malta that the proof readers slip up.

The main English language Sunday in Malta is a bulging number compared to its weekday counterpart. It’s also a tradition that still has magnetic pull though perhaps its circulation figures are boosted by those seeking ads not news; apparently the ‘classifieds’ is the most read section.

You can learn a lot from the ads about the movers and shakers in Malta. Adverts can help you work out the business scene, state of the economy or who’s who. The social pages are all about pouts, lipstick, heels, décolletage and podiums. At least half the people in the society pages you’ll know, or know of, if you live here.

But scan the boxed ads and you’ll have a mine of information at your fingertips. Recruitment ads mean ‘ah, so and so must have left that job then if they’re hiring’; while adverts for upcoming conferences, business breakfasts and talks mean: ’so he’s on the speaking gravy train now he’s back from Brussels’; and notices about art exhibition inaugurations can give you a diary date as you’ll know you’ll bump into so-and-so who’ve you’ve wanted to talk business to for ages.

The ads speak volumes and often far more than the column inches. Half a year living in Malta and a bit of insider knowledge and you’ll soon find you’re reading the adverts as much if not more than the journalism.

I meant in this post to give a snapshot of what to expect of typical Sunday paper headlines, and therefore an insight into what preoccupies Malta. But the news items this week are so typical they could be of a year past or a year hence. They include items on an errant MP; some administrative errors in EU fund disbursement; Malta’s Eurovision hopeful and her woes; priests and alleged child abuse; Brand Malta and tourism; and a death, albeit of a Sacristan this time, from injuries sustained from a fireworks’ factory blast.

Given the news is a case of ‘plus ça change’, it’s inevitable the ads often give a better insight into what’s happening here!

Photo: Luc De Leeuw

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Wiring is the easy bit. Getting what goes down the pipes to work is another matter!

Here’s a typical technology woe that could face any micro business or SME in Malta, any day. Our resident IT help-desk buff Steve Hall advises.

Business organisations have always depended on the productivity of their human resources to be profitable. Increasingly today human resources depend on information and communication technologies to be productive. Pulling the plug on an office desk reduces the human resource behind it to a huffing and puffing pyrotechnic spectacle. This phenomenon is of course not exclusive to Maltese companies but Malta does (as always) offer a number of uniqueness’s of its own in this area too.

The overview
JustInTime is a ‘typical’ consulting firm with three staff members. Justin secures new business and oversees the operation of the firm, John provides the actual client services and manages the subcontractors and Julie coordinates office facilities.

What goes wrong
Justin’s email hasn’t been working very well lately and today it isn’t working at all. Julie has also been having difficulty accessing the office files. Julie calls their Internet Service Provider and explains the problem. The ISP concludes that the internet connection is fine and that the problem must be on JustInTime’s office system.

John, who is the most tech savvy of the three takes matters into his own hands and begins to investigate possible causes. Justin who is expecting a rather important email is getting anxious to get the problem sorted and decides to call in a specialist to resolve the issue.

The Malta angle on the IT woe
The short local distances are a blessing in these situations, but even though the specialist team happens to be only a few blocks away, due to contractual commitments with other clients they won’t be available for another five hours. That’s five hours of more lost productivity!

Justin leaves the office to meet with clients, John too leaves the office to catch up with subcontractor progress and Julie remains in the office. After contacting a few friends she finds someone who can be there within the hour. The problem gets solved and productivity levels are restored.

But, the SME’s IT woes just keep on repeating themselves
The following week Justin isn’t able to send an email message, Julia can’t print and John is on an overseas assignment. Julia calls the IT specialist who worked on the system last week but isn’t available this time around. I think you can see where this is going.

And now for a real solution…
Your business depends on technology more each day. Issues crop up for sometimes the oddest of reasons. The challenge is to minimize unscheduled productivity destroying issues. The solution is to routinely check for symptoms that lead to critical issues and remedy them before they unleash their worst.

As with all other things that need doing, there’s two ways to get around this one: You can either do it yourself or you can hire a specialist to do it for you. If this decision was an easy one for you to take, read on.

The ‘Do-it-yourself’ option?
At the outset, if you have the skill-set necessary to identify the symptoms leading to critical issues, then you really should be in the business of charging for it rather than using it to keep your own systems in order. In that case, wouldn’t your time be better spent running the business? Get your technical staff to focus on the technical issues and keep your focus on expanding the business.

Or the ‘outsource to a specialist’ option?
Hiring a specialist firm to keep your systems in order is rapidly becoming standard practice for many organizations of varying sizes. This method of system support referred to as IT Support Outsourcing is being provided by an increasing number of IT Support Service Providers world-wide including Malta.

Service Level Agreements and what you need to know
Engaging an Outsourced IT Support Service Provider is done with a clear objective -to maintain your system in a productive, stable and secure state. By defining Routine Pro-active deliverables (note the capital R and P) in the form of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) the provider will identify and remedy the symptoms that lead to critical issues resulting in unscheduled downtime. It is these unscheduled issues which are the highest cause of productivity loss in business organizations world-wide. The provider will pre-empt possible critical issues and schedule downtime when it least impacts your productivity.

What your SLA should include
The essential deliverables to define in your SLA are:- Issue response time, Data backup verification, End User Support and Checking for System Updates.

Taking your SLA to a higher level to ensure you’ve got what it takes to recover, a Disaster Recovery Plan is indispensable. The DRP is crucial for the larger organizations where a total system wipe-out caused by fire, flood or equipment theft could result in bankruptcy. Less essential but equally important to the smaller organizations, the DRP is updated on a regular basis to ensure that the organization’s system could return to productivity in the shortest possible time.

Selecting a suitable Support Service Provider
How do you know you’re getting the support you’re paying for – and when you need it? Start by asking questions based on this article to get a feel for the providers’ skill-set.

Do not go into any issues specifically relating to your system during your first meeting. Sign a non-disclosure agreement with the prospective provider before disclosing any information about your installation. Try to get a reference from one of their existing clients, but bear in mind that they may not be in a position to divulge this information in order to maintain the confidentiality of their clients. If they do so freely consider how comfortable you would feel being used as a marketing lever without giving consent. Ask if they currently service clients in the same line of business. If you’re an industrial operation for example, this may work to your benefit since they would already be familiar with your business needs. On the other hand if the nature of your business is highly confidential, this may be reason to exclude this prospective provider.

Costs are naturally going to fit into the evaluation equation at some stage but I needn’t jog your memory on how to go about this do I?

Photo: Gege Gatt

For more on how to get your SME’s IT running (all the time, not just some of the time), contact:

Your iTdept 53 Norfolk Street Sliema SLM 2014 Web: www.youritdept.biz Email: info@youritdept.biz Tel: +356 2133 0879 Mob: +356 7932 4522 Skype: youritdept LinkedIn: Your iTdept Facebook: Stephen Hall Twitter: twitter.com/liveITsupport

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Maltese walls: always weathered, but not always permeable to Wi-Fi

Sometimes, it’s difficult getting technology and Maltese houses to get on together. None more so than when it gets to Wi-Fi, thick limestone walls and a bewildering choice of terminologies you have to navigate to find a solution to a simple problem: I want to access the Web in my home without getting tangled in wires. In this piece, Steve Hall navigates through the options for ubiquitous Wi-Fi in the home.

As with all computer technologies, Wi-Fi outfits come in several relishes. Selecting the one most suitable for you can be a chore in itself.  Sure, you can pick up any Access Point and USB Wi-Fi stick from your local computer store, but if you’re after a reliable connection with decent coverage and sufficient speed, read on.

To have devices from different manufacturers talk with each other requires some form of a standard to be in force.  The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)  has been responsible for some of the world’s greatest technical standards including Wi-Fi.  Continuous development of the standard over time has resulted in a number of incarnations identified by a single lower-case letter suffix to the numeric identifier of the standard ‘802.11’.  Each variant has its own set of speed, range and interference characteristics.  In order to maintain the fast-facts objective of this article we’ll keep our focus on the milestone incarnations.

The original standard was established in 1997. It was designed to provide a bandwidth (speed of data transfer) of 2Mbps (Millions of bits per second).   This may come across as pretty quick if you’re unfamiliar with this unit of measure.  Truth is – it’s pathetic.  This standard was upgraded within less than two years to provide much higher speeds exceeding even the wired equivalents of its time.

802.11a & 802.11b were established at around the same time and provided 54Mbps and 11Mbps respectively.  The 11Mbps ‘b’ standard was targeted for domestic installations and offered a greater coverage.  Two typical nine-inch Maltese walls were just about the limit. The 54Mbps ‘a’ standard was more expensive and therefore more exclusive to business installations.  Ironically the ‘a’ standard had a shorter range of coverage than the ‘b’ standard however a business’s craving for faster speeds simply added more Access Points all over the place to overcome this drawback.

802.11g emerged in 2002 combining the speed of ‘a’ with the coverage of ‘b’.  This standard is currently still the most popular and is used in both business and domestic systems.

802.11n is the latest incarnation and claims at least double the speed of ‘g’ and three times the coverage!  I’ve witnessed this get past four typical nine-inch Maltese walls! You’d be right to think that 802.11n is the obvious way forward but as with everything else’ tech’ there’s still some substance going for the older 802.11g.

Compatibility – each standard is only compatible with its own sort. So having an access point that’s ‘n’ won’t talk to a device that’s ‘g’.  Luckily, the better manufacturers have pre-empted this and made most Access Points support the major previous standards.

Speed – How much do you really need? With internet speeds currently peeking at around 20Mbps even the 54Mpbs provided by 802.11g will suffice for the foreseeable future.  If on the other hand you’re operating a LAN on your Wi-Fi infrastructure then you may need the impressive performance offered by 802.11n.

Cost – 802.11n devices carry the higher price tag even when compared to 802.11g. So unless you absolutely need it you may well be spending your change on some extra internet bandwidth.

Coverage – Nothing compares to the penetrating power of 802.11n so if coverage is a priority ‘n’ is the way to go.  Keeping security in-check however, you wouldn’t want your signals to travel too far!  So do keep 802.11g on the cards.

OK, enough said – You’ve forked out for the more expensive 802.11n Access Point. You set it up and like everyone else who’s been down that road, you only achieve a speed and range of the 802.11g standard!  Disappointed?

You may be surprised to note that most of the devices (laptops, smartphones, internet radios etc.) are equipped with 802.11g interfaces at best and therefore associating them to a faster ‘n’ Access Point simply doesn’t magically transform them into ‘n’ capable devices!  In order to get the faster speed and Maltese wall-blasting power of the newer 802.11n Access Point you will need to add an external 802.11n network interface to your device.  These 802.11n interfaces come in several formats. Two of the most popular formats are PCI Cards particularly suitable for standard desktop PC’s and USB Sticks which are generally used for Laptops but may also be used for desktop PC’s.

When upgrading to 802.11n it is generally advisable to stick with a single brand for both the Access Point and Device Interface.  This ensures maximum reliability, performance and practically guarantees that the setup will work straight out-of-the-box.

If your lovely Maltese walls are hindering your Wi-Fi coverage, go for 802.11n but remember, you’ll also need to budget for upgrading all your devices!

IEEE logo is a registered trademark of the  Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. WIFI Certified Logo is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Photo: Andrew Galea Debono

For more on which Wi-Fi options suit your Malta home, contact:

Your iTdept 53 Norfolk Street Sliema SLM 2014 Web: www.youritdept.biz Email: info@youritdept.biz Tel: +356 2133 0879 Mob: +356 7932 4522 Skype: youritdept LinkedIn: Your iTdept Facebook: Stephen Hall Twitter: twitter.com/liveITsupport

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Pointed comments in a blog. But who will come out of all this walking tall?

A week is a long time in politics, they say. But it’s more like thirty years if you’re talking about Malta. Because this week has seen some thirty years of dirty laundry (including juicy bits that leave Sex & the City seeming bland) washed in public by Malta’s very own A-list blogger, political and social pundit, commentator and doyenne of the media columns – Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Who? Say the name ‘Daphne’ to anyone who’s been more than a few months in Malta, and they will not be thinking of a middle-aged mother of three grown-up sons, but of a razor sharp pen, no-holes-barred approach to writing about anyone and anything, and a publish-and-be-damned approach to the media. Daphne this week became the ‘Daily Daphne’ and I would hazard a guess that the majority of Malta’s 400,000 population was reading her next installment. Daphne grew up writing print columns, but what we’re all reading is her blog. That’s where her power base now lies.

Malta’s past has seen institutional powers try to censor and even close down print media; the last few days has seen the powers that be get to grips with the blog. We’re all waiting to see if the daily Daphne will be gagged, switched off, sued or whatever else can shut her off.

So, as the word got around this week, Daphne’s blog was getting more hits than the mainstream media, such as the Times. If you click on the ‘Most viewed’ and ‘Most commented’ section of her blog, you will find out why.

But what’s of real interest is that in Malta, blogging and citizen media are finally coming of age. You could opine that the furore this week is an exception, that Daphne is simply a trusted, trained journalist who has managed to migrate her skills sets and social capital seamlessly to new media; but you cannot fail to notice that something is changing as far as media production and power systems in Malta are concerned. That while only a couple of years ago, you had to rely on a letter to be printed in a newspaper for you to have ‘a voice’, you can now set up your Web 2.0 stall somewhere and become a media producer in a matter of a few minutes. As long as you have something to say, even in a micro-market like Malta, you have a chance to connect and engage with people who would not necessarily be buying a newspaper. And perhaps more importantly, to say things that the mainstream, for various reasons – including concerns about libel – would simply not support.

It’s been the week when the term ‘global village’ really resonated in Malta.

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