News • 19 January 2003

Godfrey Grima and the BA’s Lm40,000 referendum package

By Kurt Sansone

Blata l-Bajda – He was chosen to present the programme after a brain-storming session by the Broadcasting Authority board members, but Godfrey Grima’s new EU-related programme is sleek and the fast-paced discussion is nothing compared to the normally boring BA political broadcasts.

The programme, which features Godfrey Grima interviewing people in a number of EU member states, is financed by the Broadcasting Authority from the Lm40,000 allocated in the last budget specifically for all EU-related productions in the run-up to the referendum.

When asked to comment on Godfrey Grima’s new TV series, which went on air a fortnight ago, BA Chief Executive Kevin Aquilina said that it was not true that Mr Grima’s programme alone cost the Authority Lm40,000.

The funds cover the current expenses incurred in the production of three EU-related programmes hosted by Godfrey Grima and Professor Edward Scicluna as well as the forthcoming broadcasting schedule that will be announced when the date of the referendum is official.

Dr Aquilina would not reveal the rates at which Mr Grima and Prof. Scicluna are being paid saying that this was commercial information. However, he did say they are on the low side.

Professor Edward Scicluna. Presents two series of four programmes each. In one series Prof. Scicluna hosts representatives of the three political parties while in the other series he hosts representatives of the various pro and anti EU lobbies.

The BA Chief Executive explained that both Godfrey Grima and Prof. Edward Scicluna’s programmes belonged to the Authority. He explained that Mr Grima and Prof. Scicluna were chosen by the BA board members to host the respective programmes, which were proposed by the Authority itself. The programmes are set to cover the period January-February.

Dr Aquilina told MaltaToday that the BA does not have any set criteria for selecting programme presenters. Dr Aquilina said that it is the BA board that decides on the ideal person after a brain storming session. If the selected candidate accepts the BA’s offer he or she is engaged as a part-timer according to ETC regulations.

Meanwhile, in December last year Dr Aquilina met representatives of the three political parties to gauge their views on a series of political broadcasts during the referendum campaign. The Authority is currently internally evaluating the report of those meetings and will announce a new scheme of political broadcasts in relation to the EU when the referendum date is made official.

kurt@maltamag.com