|
Two weeks ago this newspaper broke two political stories relating to Charles Mangion and to Tony Abela. We considered the first story a matter of questionable principles and an example of political incorrectness. The Tony Abela case exposed the risk when politicians keep bad company. Our motivation in exposing these stories was purely our belief that they ought to be in the public domain. They evidenced yet again that we are reader and not party-driven. Former Labour finance minister Lino Spiteri, referring to our paper, states “the investigative MaltaToday leaves little quarter to the political class”. Indeed this resonates with our mission statement.
The reactions and the non-reactions to our stories from various quarters warrant analysis. PBS avoided discussing these stories. Its ethos seems to be party political and not national broadcasting. Its branding is being tarnished daily as a consequence. Its news bulletin relays a bland news service dominated by press releases issued by the political parties and institutions. No critical analysis, no probing of persons invited into the studio. It is a far cry from an audience-driven news service.
The Broadcasting Authority constituted to ensure a fair and an impartial broadcasting service remains totally numb. It protects the interests of the political parties and gives little importance to a quality national news service. They rarely, if ever, impose news standards on broadcasters. Only this week the national station decreed that all TV programmes must show an age certificate. This is all very positive yet we rarely hear anything about the need to upgrade news standards. The less controversial and poignant the news service, the happier the authority appears to be.
The authority should intervene and quickly as the country simply cannot afford the Punch and Judy show transmitted on the political stations’ daily news service. The stations are bound by the Constitution to transmit an impartial service. The authority simply cannot hide behind the belief that the excesses of one station are ironed out by the excesses of the other. This negates the letter and the spirit of our Constitution. This last week witnessed the lowest of transmission standards with each station spinning and fanning stories broken by MaltaToday. The game plan is to tarnish the other side. The pursuit of the truth is not a consideration. A tit-for-tat culture seems to permeate the news services of the political parties. This blatant political misuse of the media places a bigger burden on the independent media as the defender of the citizen’s right to know.
This is the age of the independent media. A fair and incisive media can set the political agenda. Our country is crying out for a media which fairly, accurately, and firmly, probes political parties, politicians, the judiciary and persons appointed to political posts. Accountability and transparency are the hallmarks of a modern democracy. In probing, the media is fulfilling its duty to inform. During last week’s Int x’Tahseb interview the Prime Minister suggested that journalists too should declare their interests so as to assure readers listeners and audiences that there are no hidden agendas or conflicts of interest accusations surrounding the publishing of stories. This newspaper concurs with the prime minister’s suggestion and has no difficulty in extending such transparency to include media owners too.
Twelve years after the introduction of pluralism in our country, the situation of local broadcasting needs to be analysed. A commission dominated by persons with experience in the sector need to make suggestions updating and upgrading the laws and looking into the workings of the broadcasting authority and its relevance in an ever changing world. Pluralism has not brought about a higher standard of broadcasting. Regrettably pluralism has not freed the airwaves but placed the political parties and the institutions in a more dominant position leaving little space for the emerging independent media. This is all being done with the knowledge and tacit consent of the very institution set up to ensure impartiality of the broadcasting media. The advent of satellite and digital television risks rendering the local stations irrelevant. They must grab the opportunity to produce local content, which appeals to local audiences if they are to maintain their audience levels. Most of all, they must stop this nauseating Punch and Judy daily show on our television screens.
|
