Broadcasting Authority (BA) chairman Joe Scicluna has called for a review of the National Broadcasting Policy, as it is “unacceptable” with regard to the editorial functions of the public service broadcaster.
Writing in the BA’s annual report for 2007, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Scicluna complained that the tug of war between the PBS Editorial Board and the company’s Board of Directors, which led to the PBS management overruling decisions taken by the editorial board relating to news and current affairs programmes, had rendered the policy “not working in a totally satisfactory manner”.
In his message, the BA Chairman explained that during the second half of 2007, in anticipation of the oncoming electoral campaign, the Authority “intensified its scrutiny of broadcasting content in the local broadcasting media, especially in relation to news and current affairs programmes.
“In the particular case of the public service broadcaster, the Authority even considered it appropriate to adopt specific measures which are normally only applied during the official electoral campaign period, namely a requirement for the broadcaster to notify the Authority and to seek its approval, on an a priori basis, of the subjects to be addressed in its current affairs programmes.
“Indeed, the Authority felt that it had to adopt and to maintain this measure also in view of the fact that, in its opinion, the established editorial structures of the public service broadcaster were not functioning in a satisfactory manner.”
Scicluna explained how John Camilleri, the former chairman of the PBS editorial board, resigned amid controversy in August 2007 and had not been replaced by the date of the presentation of the report.
“The advice of the other members of the editorial board was, on several occasions, not accepted by the management of the company, even when this referred to purely editorial issues.
“At least on one occasion, a decision by the former registered editor of the station to grant a right of reply to an aggrieved party in terms of the Press Act was overruled by management.
“This situation cannot be acceptable to the Authority, and I strongly believe that, in a situation where the editorial functions of the public service broadcaster are not working in a totally satisfactory manner, the impartiality requirements imposed by the Constitution of Malta on the Broadcasting Authority cannot be satisfied in the fullest manner,” Scicluna warned.
"It is hoped that the incoming Administration will address this issue, if necessary with a review of the broadcasting policy issued in 2004,” the BA Chairman appealed.
It was only recently that Education and Culture Minister Dolores Cristina, the new Minister politically responsible for PBS, appointed former BA Chairman Joe Pirotta as chairman of the new editorial board, together with veteran journalist Charles Mizzi and University professor Maryanne Lauri: the only member of the previous board to be re-confirmed.

czahra@mediatoday.com.mt