Disheartened by ‘orchestrated campaign’, Sammut resigns from PEC

“The reasons behind my resignation from the PEC concern a recent development which dashed any hope I had of having a media structure that self-regulates the profession, modelled on those in other countries,” Sammut told MaltaToday.

“The events that transpired after the announcement of the decision taken by the Press Ethics Commission made me aware that we are still far off from reaching the necessary maturity.”

The decision in question concerned a complaint filed by Mizzi with the PEC about a story published by newspaper Illum, which had used stills from footage showing the PBS chairman in an apparent state of extreme intoxication at the Eurovision Song Contest after-party in Germany last May.

The embarrassing footage, in which Mizzi was seen passing out in full view of a assembled crowd composed largely of European journalists, was also shown on MaltaToday’s portal, resulting in Mizzi’s resignation as PBS chairman.

The Commission eventually ruled that the article was a case of ‘character assassination’, and issued a ‘grave censure’ of journalist Julia Farrugia for failing to ascertain if Mizzi was in fact drunk.

This same ruling was cited by Education Minister Dolores Cristina as a pretext to reinstate Mizzi, and resulted in a wave of attacks against Farrugia.

Sammut told MaltaToday that she felt the PEC “had found itself caught in the middle and used in an orchestrated campaign.”

As a result of this ruling the Commission also found itself the target of media criticism: among others by this newspaper, which took an editorial stand against the PEC ruling.

“Despite how we freely and selflessly provide our service and time, we found ourselves insulted and had our credibility attacked,” Sammut observed. “Aside from the attacks on the Commission itself, some of us also came under attack as individuals.”

Along with others on the PEC, Sammut was in the process of drawing up an ethical code for journalists. She explains how she was discouraged by the lack of response from local media houses.

“Aside from being saddened by the frenzy of attacks by some journalists against others, as opposed to genuine criticism, I was also disheartened by the apathy,” she says. “When I accepted to serve with the PAC, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work so that, through a consultative process, we would revise Code of Ethics, after which we started working on ways to strengthen the structure. As journalists know, we worked extensively on the texts of the Code and discussed many revisions during especially-held seminars. The idea was that, through a consultation process, the Code and the Commission achieve greater legitimacy.”

Nonetheless her hopes that this exercise would foster greater enthusiasm towards strengthening journalistic institutions proved unfounded.

“Sadly, many newsrooms did not even contribute. We worked hard, but those who did not contribute are now among the first dismiss our work as illegitimate, or that we are not representational.”

In the light of the apathy encountered, and the atmosphere of hostility between different journalists, Sammut felt she had no option but to call it a day.

“My only interest was to promote ethical and credible journalism, and since I have no confidence that this is achievable, I felt I needed to step aside to dedicate my time and energy to other endeavours.”