The development of timesofmalta.com took a number of huge steps forward on November 9 as a result of innovative actions taken by both the editorial and technical teams to improve its service to readers.

A dedicated team provided real-time reporting of the Budget speech by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, breaking the speech down into subject areas and including video extracts of his speech with each story.

Online readers were invited to submit their questions on the Budget to representatives of the Ministry of Finance, who in turn replied online. As each story developed, comments began pouring in from interested readers and viewers both in Malta and Gozo, and elsewhere around the world.

Matching these editorial efforts, for the first time the site carried a live video stream directly from Parliament.

The technological challenges behind this development involved microwave communication of a signal from Parliament being relayed through a newly established facility at Allied's headquarters in St Paul Street, Valletta, through a connection to the internet. PBS provided the feed.

Online editor of timesofmalta.com Christopher Scicluna noted that while the challenges were tough, it was evidence of the team spirit, dedication and professionalism of the individuals involved.

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