Towards better practices in the literary sector and the publishing industry

Introduction

The local literary sector and publishing industry are a main contributor in strengthening culture, identity and democracy in Malta and Gozo. The sector is based on the work done by businesses and various economic activities that cater to the many needs of the local consumer, from school books to literature for adults, enterprises that employ a great number of professionals whose livelihood depends on publishing. These are the grounds on which Fondazzjoni HELA bases all of its work focusing on a wide and long-term vision with transversal implications.

This document is directed particularly towards the entities which are responsible for this sector, and reflects the experiences and sentiments of many stakeholders with various interests in the sector, ranging from commercial to recreational. Our recommendations address priorities that, in spiteoftheir imperative importance, have yet to find their place on the national agenda and in the work plan ofthe entities responsible for this sector.

With these proposals and recommendations, Fondazzjoni HELA is continuing to work towards fair practices for all those engaged in this sector, and towards the consolidation of a policy which allows renewal and improvement in the local literary product. Whilst recognising the challenges,some of them old and institutional, we are bringing forward these proposals for a policy with long-term vision that encourages development and innovation in the local publishing market and direct investment in the whole ecosystem.

Objectives

With this document, we would like to drive and encourage open and constructive debate which leads to a stronger sector by:

1. Creating a reference framework for good practices and safeguards for each stakeholder in the sector.

2. Identifying the needs and solutions for more competitive, innovative and sustainable enterprises in the publishing world.

3. Increasing awareness about transversal principles which promote professionalism in the sector.

4. Acknowledging the roots of the obstacles which jeopardise the development of technical and professional skills.

5.Proposing measures and solutions towards a policy which acknowledges the important contribution which publishers, writers, translators, editors, designers, illustrators, printers, readers and all the stakeholders give to society in general, not only with the cultural capital they generate, but also with the social and economic capital which is created as a direct impact of their activities and investment.

Stakeholders

Knowing who the stakeholders are guarantees that no contributor in the sector is left behind and that every discussion about the sector reflects the diversity and complexity of the publishing and literature ecosystem in Malta.

As Fondazzjoni HELA, we acknowledge that the identity and the contribution of individuals and organisations involved in the sector are of a non-homogeneous nature. This means that each time they are addressed as a homogeneous group, characteristics are lost, which reflect the diverse realities that constitute the sector.

The main stakeholders include all the people who contribute to the sector, without whose professional services, Maltese literature and all literary products would not be possible (publishers, writers, translators, editors, proofreaders, designers, etc). Along with these stakeholders, this document also addresses the public that participates and contributes to the sector as readers, consumers, audiences and clients.

Finally, one cannot leave out the various official entities responsible for the sectors of publishing and enterprise, literacy, literature, education and culture. Among others, these include the National Book Council (NBC), Arts Council Malta (ACM), the National Literacy Agency, Malta Libraries, Malta Enterprise and the various ministries whose work directly impacts the sector. The policy which these entities draw up, adopt and implement has a direct impact on the stakeholders and all the other interests in the sector.

Research

1. Each policy proposed and adopted by responsible entities should be drawn up on the basis of systematic research and consultation with the main stakeholders according to the relevance and the objectives of this measure.

Professionalism and standards

1. The entities responsible should actively participate in the promotion of a practice that guarantees appropriate safeguards and competitiveness, including that all the actors inthesectorworkwithfair contracts that safeguard their professional and moral interests with appropriate conditions.

2. 2. Other entities, even though they might not have the strength of a regulator, should speak clearly about the importance of a fair practice which safeguards all the businesses and professionals involved in the local sector. This should be done in order to create a culture which protects the livelihood of the entrepreneurs and workers concerned, a professional culture which permits the strengthening of the enterprise and workers’ skills on all levels.

3. Everyone who is asked to provide their professional services should not only be compensated for their work, but should be given the treatment and respect they deserve,andbetreatedwithdignity without having to ask for dignified treatment themselves.

4. In a regular and structured way, the same entities should make sure that they are operating fairly with full transparency by providing professional support, information and access to funds and opportunities for whoever occupies a certain role in the sector. Wherever obstacles are identified with regards to access, these should be addressed effectively with thecollaborationoforganisations like Fondazzjoni HELA which represent the interests of the sector. Through the years, it was often groups like Fondazzjoni HELA and others which were created ad hoc that identified the needs and obstacles instead of the public entities themselves.

5. The entities concerned should all consolidate their visions and work and, above all, adopt a proactive attitude with regards to measures which improve the climate for enterprise in the publishing industry. There needs to be a continuous collaborative effort, made of a common vision, between the public entities and the ministries themselves, in order to identify strengthening and innovative measures.

6. Public officials occupying high roles within entities which are directly responsible for the sector, entities which draw up policies and administer funds, should have nor elation which could constitute an actual or perceived conflict. This principle safeguards the promotion of ethical practices including the accountability and credibility of the entity which these officials represent.

7. The responsible entities should openly declare in a transparent way a list of ethical principles and practices which they uphold internally with regards to the sector, leading by example.

The National Book Festival

Through the year several events are organised which are presented as opportunities of sales and visibility for the Maltese book. The most important event in this regard remains the National Book Festival. While Fondazzjoni HELA acknowledges the importance of such an event where the Maltese book is celebrated and where the whole sector can come together under one roof and meet itspublic, we also acknowledge some challenges of both this festival itself, andothersimilareventsandmeasures related to them. These include:

1. Through the years, by giving vouchers to students and the logistical mechanisms involved to attract students to the festival, the National Book Festival explicitly and actively promotes children’s literature above all other genres. This is in spite of the fact that this genre remains, when compared to others, more commercially viable. Since there is no investment equivalent to other literary genres, this creates a disadvantage for whoever publishes or works in different genres. The Festival should provide an equal opportunity to each stakeholder and exhibitor without discriminating amongst the literary genres, the exhibitors invited or those visiting the festival.

2. The festival’s quality could improve so as to reflect a more dignified attitude towards the book and literature, especially when the organiser is the National Book Council. It is unacceptablethat some exhibitors dump books on shelves in a careless manner, without paying attention to their presentation, showing a lack of respect and interest towards the book and the consumer, and generally lowering the quality of the festival. The festival’s organisers should publish stricter guidelines, and support those exhibitors who ask for help to make their stands more presentable.

3. The festival’s organisers should ensure that no exhibitors are selling products which go against local or European directives and legislation. If they permit practices that put local products at a disadvantage, the organisers would naturally be shouldering the responsibility for the irregular actions they permit. The NBC should work with the responsible entities to ensure that these irregularities do not happen, and lead by examples so that wherever there’s suspicion or proofof irregular practices, these are categorically disallowed in the festival.

4. The NBC should be transparent about how the specific expenses allocated to the festival are spent. So far, the expenses appear only under generic titles in the NBC’s annual reports. This only presents a generic and partial idea of how and where the money of the festival is spent,and we don’t know exactly how and how much certain people are paid, particularly both the local and foreign guests of the festival.

Internationalisation

1. The NBC could have a strategic role with all the parties in the sector by being of assistance, including offering financial support, so that organisations, individuals and publishers look for collaboration and participation in networks, fairs and projects abroad, according to their specific priorities. These could be various opportunities, from business missions to participation in fora and conferences organised by European networks.

2. The NBC can serve as a bridge between its stakeholders and other government entities to ensure that internationalisation and exportation objectives of Maltese literature are reached.

3. The NBC should work with entities such as Trade Malta (the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, the Malta Chamber) that exist specifically to facilitate the exportation and internationalisation of Maltese enterprise so that together they may provide international opportunities for Maltese publications.

4. The London Book Fair (LBF) still represents a considerable annual expense on NBC books. Meanwhile, we have yet to see what the benefits, if any, of Malta’s participation in this particular fair are.

5. The decision that Malta participates in the LBF, like any other strategic decision, should be tied to a cost-benefit analysis and in consultation with the main stakeholders.

Infrastructure and Enterprise

1. In the past years, whilst we saw improvements in the profile of public libraries, independent spaces and enterprises which produce and/or sell books kept closing down. It is imperative that specific initiatives are drawn up and implemented for the publishing sector. These could include temporary business incubators, which support book publishing or sales (both with physical stores and online) and distribution start-ups, so that Maltese consumers and readers are well served. This includes initiatives for independent places which are used as autonomous/independent literature houses - not like the Maltese Book Centre (Ċentru Malti tal-Ktieb) - led by the private sector or voluntary organisations and where various cultural activities can take place.

2. The entities responsible should identify the main obstacles which hold the sector back from expanding on all levels, with regards to competitiveness, innovation and existing routes for the book to reach the market.

The National Book Fund

1. The National Book Fund must grow substantially. These last few years, the global sum allocated to the proposals remained €120,000 yearly, going up to €135,000 in 2025. This sum is not enough to address the financial aid needed in the sector for it to advance.

2. All evaluation boards of funds and prizes appointed by the relevant entities should be competent and representative of different sexes, genders, ages and competences.

3. Moreover, it would be appropriate that all the applicants of all funds receive an explanation about the result of their proposal. This should become part of the established procedures related to the evaluation process.

Public Lending Rights

1. Fondazzjoni HELA welcomes the increase in the global sum dedicated to the Public Lending Rights as announced in January 2025. This increase should have a positive impact in the sector, particularly for writers.

2. The maximum amount discriminates against those books which are borrowed the most, having a negative impact on their authors and illustrators. It should therefore be removed.

3. The information published by the NBC clearly shows that the main beneficiaries of the Rights are authors and books aimed at children. Fondazzjoni HELA therefore proposes that the funds allocated to the Rights should be split in two, one for children’s books, and another for the other books with a larger allocation for the latter, so that the distribution is more equal and fair.

Research

Fondazzjoni HELA acknowledges that there are various challenges, some old, that there are no easy solutions for, and that because of their nature, it is not easy to solve them simply with new funds. For certain structural and cultural problems, there needs to be strategic work over a number of years, with the participation of various partners and with political will and conviction. For this to happen, it is crucial that we research, identify and articulate the challenges in a comprehensive way. Therefore:

1. There should be a map for all entities which represent interests in the sector and the competences, limits and missions of each one should be identified so that synergies may be consolidated, and wherever there is the need for restructuring, it can be addressed.

2. Extensive research should be done on the impact of relevant existing incentives and measures so that we understand how they are impacting the indigenous publishing industry. (The Book Fund, vouchers’ scheme, fiscal incentives and other funds).

3. There needs to be a clear picture of the legislation which regulates the book sales which are discarded by other markets on a national and European basis, and which allegedly are being sold during the National Book Festival and independent fairs/shops in Malta and Gozo (book dumping).

4. Further in-depth research is needed about the obstacles and expenses which hamper the development and strengthening of the publishing industry. If this information does not exist so far, what are the policies and measures, which come into force and allegedly help the sector, based on?

5. Other research is required to establish the impact of public funds, administered by various entities, which are going to beneficiaries that operate in the publishing industry. (NBC, Arts Council Malta, Malta Enterprise, etc). It is vital that there is an in depth analysis of the impact these funds have, an analysis based on the same mission of the NBC and entities which administer similar funds aimed at expanding the sector, both locally and internationally.

6. Research needs to be conducted about the incentives and disincentives there are for Maltese publishers to produce their books locally instead of working with printers outside of Malta or outside of Europe.

7. Research needs to be done so that the NBC and responsible entities acknowledge and valorise the work of organisations which work in favour of the sector with unique and valuable contributions, such as the bilingual depository of Maltese writers, created and administered by Fondazzjoni HELA.

Conclusion

To summarise, with this short document, Fondazzjoni HELA would like to shed light on the principles and solutions which lead to better practices in the local publishing industry. Our vision is that the responsible entities seek to be amongst the first to adopt more fair and transparent practices, and that in the coming years they work closely between themselves, as well as with organisations like Fondazzjoni HELA. It is not an impossible vision. To get there, certain thinking, consultation and decision processes about policies and measures should be opened and be decentralised. The will, drive and above all ambition in the private and third sectors are already present.