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Journalist sacked from Times over Austin Gatt insult report tells his story
Matthew Bonanno, 23, a junior journalist at The Times, who was sacked on Friday morning has decided to tell his story on Facebook after an account of the story as it happened in MaltaToday's Sunday edition
On Facebook he says: "What I did was this: The day before the incident, I posted on Ms Abela Garrett's wall, "Guess who's going to be at University tomorrow." I barely paid attention to her comment in which she told me she was going to give me a good story. So much so that I didn't even tell my editors about it, and as a result did not attend the event, which by the way was public and not in the least bit top secret. Therefore, the whole thing was not orchestrated in any way."
He continues: “If I really, intentionally wanted to orchestrate something like that, I would have messaged her privately, not joked semi-publicly on her Facebook wall. In the words of John Cleese in a Monty Python sketch, I may be an idiot but I'm no fool.”
He also clarified that he did did not write the article.
“I was busy following George Pullicino around a valley at the time and call him as my witness. It was not me who decided to portray Ms. Abela Garrett as a heroine.”
He also explains how he was informed of his termination: “The only thing I was disappointed about was not being given the chance to explain myself or apologise, in person. I was of course asked to explain myself via email on Thursday, since I was off that day, but I kept it brief and intended to explain myself fully, in front of the editors, the next day. On Friday, after being left in the newsroom for about 2 hours, I was called to HR and told my probation was terminated with immediate effect. To be honest I didn't give my side of things, seeing as I wasn't asked to. I don't beg.
“Neither am I going to be bearing a grudge against the bloggers who blew the incident out of proportion. They do what they do and I should have known better than to give them fuel to fire their own agendas. And before they claim they don't have an agenda, if Messrs. Bondi (sorry but I can't be arsed putting the accent on the i) and Caruana Galizia were the journalists they claim to be, they would have phoned me to get my side of things before stampeding towards their own, warped conclusions. But that's not how they work, obviously.
“I will say one thing however. Caruana Galizia claims not to be on Facebook, but that makes her lifting photos, statuses etc. from the site and putting them on her blog even more morbid and stalker-like.”
Jon Sciberras •
Daphne Caruana Galizia is on face book, she has a different profile and uses a different photo for profile. I know because someone warned me about the profile and she could also be using the fake profile with the real person's consent. But yes, she is on facebook, so beware.
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Mentioning the 80s and comparing is like comparing what is happening today between a fire place to a forest fire.
At least in the 80 as many of you like to mention the bullies came face to face and not back stab you like what is happening today.
So much so that many of them were discarded by the MLP under Dr Sant and picked up by the PN/gonziPN.
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Okay, I get it. No fool him, perhaps just an idiot. Following George Pullicino "around a valley" is no mean task... even if the belly is light and the shadow is right. As for the primadonna and her matching gnome, I wouldn't give them much credit. They already believe we owe them a living for letting them puke in our laps. And since they grass on gossip, that's all you get.
As for The Times - look on the bright side: who wants to work for a trash can liner?
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So what exactly was Matthew Banana sacked for? If I were him, I'd be on the 'phone to a lawyer this afternoon. He's got a great case for unfair dismissal. The Times is no more than a PN rag these days.
Helenio Galea •
hear hear kikku. PN, DCG, Bondi et al : don't push us away. We're already on the edge. Watching 101, some programmes on TVM and reading DCG has become scary. You've dropped to the same level as SUper One, Cuschieri etc.
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Wish i was there too F...... w.... would only have been the beginning of a more colourful language that arrogant man only understands.
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I fear as the election approaches.
Who knows what the PN and his acolytes have up their sleeve. What JPO said last week has to be carefully assessed.
PL beware as the PN will do anything to win the next election!
Their craze for power is immense (for obvious reasons).
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We've just lived the sixties with the mortal sin and interdett issues in the divorce referndum saga. And we are living the eighties right now with the tugs instead of using fists they are using even more damaging pen to emotionally destroy whoever crosses the ire of the ruling class. True the pen is mightier than the sword. Shame on the bloggers (Bondi, DCG et al) who conveniently forget that sfterall the minister's visit to university was a public event and not a secret meeting. Another nail in the Gonzipn coffin.
Christopher Briffa •
The country has come full circle dear Matt. In the 80s students and journalists were physically bullied for criticising the Government of the day. In 2011 whoever dares criticise the Government of the day is psychologically bullied and exposed to public ridicule by certain bloggers. To anyone who retorts that these bloggers do not hold any official post within the PN I say neither did many of Lorry Sant's thugs.
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BOYCOTT THE TOM,RUBBISH NEWS PAPER
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Wake up to the fact that on this island,there is no such thing as free speech. The clique that run this Country have seen to that in the last 20 years. Speak out, or say something out of turn at your peril. It is not just the Arab World that needs a revolution.
Rayman Jumbo •
Never give up Matthew - you have a long way to go and keep your head high. You should join a proper newspaper which does no favour to anyone in politics and that is Maltatoday!
Luke Camilleri •
HARRESSMENT ! INTIMIDATION! SUPPRESSION!
Where are the Media gurus that defend Freedom of Speech on the island?
What have media gurus and P.N. apologists like Loo Bondi, DCG, Fr. Joe Beirut Borg , Peppi Azzopardi have to say on the matter? Will they go and chain themselves to Castille?????
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Where is the Chamber of Journalists, will it come out and defend this young man ...and from what, idle public chat on facebook?
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Have we come to this even at the Times ? Are all journalists monitored and controlled and are not even allowed to express their opinion? Why all this suppression?
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Is the Times controlled from across the road?
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@ Antoine Vella
Nobody is stopping The Times from giving its side pf the story - they have a daily paper, a Sunday paper and a website if they wish to do it. But perhaps the truth would not make them look very good at all.
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X'arukaza! how dare anyone insult a minister ?
So we have a girl who is forced to give her personal details to an uniknown person, just for speaking her mind ; and a young journalist bering fired because he said on facebook what was public knowledge.
Who said the 60's and the 80's are back ?
Now of course, demartino will chip in in no time telling us how many cars are on the road; how restaurants are full etc etc..
Whata country !!!!!!!!!!
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So Nickola was chased by KGB, Matthew was sacked. "File close" Every part did rheir duty. Now That we are more saints than the saints themslves is Lou bondi will be allowed to carry on his task on the PBS?. He cannot be a saint because he does not beleive in God? Afterall those who hijaked BPS are more saints than St Peter!.............Of course he" shall" Lou Jien fil kleru ma nemminx mur gieb dak li qal Lou qalu xi Laburist kemm rajna cirkulari etc etc etc!!!!!!
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Has anyone bothered to get The Times's version or is the truth too inconvenient?
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@Just Ray you did get obsessed. You insulted the minister in every comment you wrote!
Godfrey Grech •
@Matthew: We know that the people who run The Times are bastar*s; what made you sign up for them in the first place? Ghad thares lura u tghid - il-Bambin refghani minn xghari.
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There is no doubt that the behaviour of MB was naive as he himself admits. If this error of judgement had been made by a seasoned journalist it would have been unpardonable. However MB being a rookie still learning the ropes and ethics of professional journalism I would have expected a more forgiving approach by the board of the TOM. The editor as a fatherly figure and mentor should have called him to his desk , gave him a good telling off and then perhaps explained firmly in paternal style the limits of responsibility and initiatiive which a rookie can assume. Having read the biographies of some of the world's best journalists invariably you read about much more serious errors of judgement they made when on the first steps of their successful journalistic career. Perhaps a sacrificial lamb was needed even if eid is still months ahead.
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xgharukaza,kif spiccajna f dan il pajjiz! u nitkazaw bil pajjizi gharab ghal giehna! x misthija! membri ta l eu! il gurnalisti hawn malta qed jispiccaw mhedda b dawn l azzjonijiet medjokri u ta regim!
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I don't know much about the labour laws in Malta but I find it hard to believe that a probationary period of employment seems to give employer the right to hire and fire with impunity. I really do recommend that Matthew seeks the advice of a good lawyer here 'cause I think that he has a case at law based on the following grounds -
1. Unless there's somewhere stated in the contract of employment or code of conduct that an employee cannot use social networking sites like FaceBook in his private time, then there was nothing that he did that goes against his obligations as an employee
2. As far as I can conclude, he did not reveal any trade secret or something of the sort. This was an appointment by a public servant in a public place where the media was expected to be present. All Matthew did is to inform one of his FB friends of an event that was announced a day before.
3. The way in which he was sacked borders on vindictiveness, without being given a fair chance to explain himself and presumably he was not even notified whether he was being investigated before he was asked to submit a report. From what I can gather is that his employer fails to indicate of which law or company regulation he was in breach.
4. Employment laws make it clear that one has a right to work irrespective of race, creed, gender, etc. So unless you are associated with some kind of sinister activity, who you are, what you are and what you do in your provate time matters for nothing in a court of law.
Wish I can help you more but I can't as I'm not a lawyer !
Good luck
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After reading this article i could not help but remember on something.
What politicians want is that all of us are kept like mushrooms!
You might say WTF am i saying eh? Yes MUSHROOMS! Why??
Mushrooms are kept in the dark...and fed bulls***!
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@ Mike Ellul
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You're dam wrong man, I do not get obsessed or follow, normally I lead!
Since when a public minister’s visit has become a sensitive information?
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Ahh, I forgot that he is the 'God of Arrogance'
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Times tal-misthija
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I think the maltese people that belives in democracy and freedom of speach should organise someting against this unjust sacking.
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I appeal to the directors of Maltatoday to offer a job to Matthew, please show some real solidarity.
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If we ever needed proof that democracy is seriously being threatened, this vile sacking will suffice. They couldn't hit Nicola they found another scape goat in Matthew.
What is this crap of premeditation? The event was public and if Nicola went there to voice her frustration she had every right to do so. It could have been anyone, but she had the guts to go an face the king of arrogance.
I trust that the gurus of human rights and democracy Lou and Peppi will promptly invite Nicola and Matthew to give their story.
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The election is approaching. The Times board was very clever. It sacrificied this baby lamb to make sure all the others in the flock get the message quite clearly on what kind of line to take, not that we didn't all know already.
I'm not a fan of the Orizzont nor of the Nazzjon, but at least the colours of the lettering in their titles show you exactly where they stand. The Times is more dangerous it prints its title in black, like those so called journalism programmes on TVM.(PBS)
By the way can we trust that lackey from MITA?It seems he'll go all any length to extract information from a 20 year old chic. Wonder what he does when he's got the whole government data base at his disposal?
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Is this the type of democracy you spoke about, Emperor Peppi Azzopardi?
You you meant to tell us that we live in a dictatorship?
Godfrey Grech •
Sad to see Matthew Bonanno ending up being the wanker.
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https://www.facebook.com/notes/matt-bonanno/my-side-of-things-by-matthew-bonanno/262837083754952
Matt Bonanno speaks up on facebook and explains his side of things.
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This shows how fascist this country is, in this university meetings they let in only the blue eye ones the goverment appologists, so they seem that they have support infront of the media, they try to not let anyone in if they are against the goverment, this is a police controlled state, is nothing better then the comunist ussr, or the saddam hussein iraq's and the gaddafi's libya, if you are with us then ok, if you are not we make a story out of you. the maltese goverment actually is being nice to libya so when election time comes, they drill for oil, this how the maltese goverment is acting, in a fascist way! fascists get out of power now, we want a free malta!
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A minister visits the university. This information was released online before the big day. Now what's so sensitive about that info?
On the other hand, i'm quiet sure that Bonanno wouldn't have get the boot if Abela Garrett had spared some positive words for Augustin. "Keep up your good work" or "Austin for Prime Minister" or so.
Patricia Marsh •
@Guzeppi. You are another of the PN apologists eh!! At least don't make it so obvious. Revealing what? A visit by a Minister at the University is a scoop? If it is for you, rest assure that for me and the others it is not. He (the journalist) has every right to reveal what he knows. That's what journalism is for. Can you at least tell me why a journalist has to know about the minister's visit and me not. Was it not supposed to be an official visit?
@ Mike Ellul. Do you really think that Malta Today is a PL newspaper? Go and tell it to the marines.......or Saviour Balzan. You can always defend Times of Malta to be an independent newspaper but don't try in way or another blame The Malta Today. Yes, I am pretty sure that Malta Today is in fact an independent newspaper. Probably you never realized that because for you and other GonziPNs being independent means being on the side of the Partit Nazzjonalista.
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@consequences
FACEBOOK...!!!
Jon Sciberras •
Boycott the Times for a week,
Do not buy newspapers from the 10 to the 17th.
Do not advertise, and try not to comment either.
Spread this let us teach them who needs who ?.
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I have to give the TOM this. Their story on how RADICAL ISLAM was going to sweep into Malta with the entry of divorce is quite the most hilarious piece of trashy fear mongering journalism (if one can call it that) that I ever read. period!!!
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Mr. Ellul , I tend to agree a little bit with you that maybe it was sensitive information that Mr. Bonanno passed to Miss. Garret .
I think it was sensitive information because Hon.Minister Arrogant Gatt went to the university not on an official visit , but to educate himself a little bit more .
Hallina Sur Ellul , informazzjoni sensittiva li ministru kien sejjer l-universita ?
U liema ministru , l-aktar wiehed arroganti .
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This shows how much we are having the real truth when we see articles on that newspaper which I stopped reading long time ago .
Well done Malta Today for letting us post our comments while others don`t
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@guzeppi and all the ****** wankers who agree with him.
The guy did nothing wrong because he went public with the info and it was not passed on illicitly.
As regards sensitive info, when has a visit by a minister to even a cafe be sensitive, normally, starting with gonzi to the lowest mp they all love to announce where they would be inaugurating a fountain or a toilet at Strada Streta.
Sensitve info my donkey
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Pre-meditated attack, of course, you hardly find the minister when one wants him.
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count me in too Malta Today.
1st newspaper I've aborted was TMI & now TTOM!
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The TOM and the Sunday TOM have been 'sleeping' in the PNs bed for ages. The incident of Black Monday in 1982 was just a good enough reason for the publishing house to elope completely from Lord Stickland's original political agenda and ideological leanings.
With a strong nationalist shareholding and a board of directors of staunch nationalist believe, the TOM and its Sunday sister contributed in no small way towards a massive democratic deficit in Malta and to help keep the nationalist in power against the people's better judgment.
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Isnt' that what the media journalist do all the time to get a story. News are always about controversy. So the TOM got a story. Period.
Joseph Sant •
If divulging supposedly sensitive information was Mr Bonanno's only wrongdoing than TOM should be condemned outright. I doubt there is anything sensitive about Austin Gatt, least of all his public appearances to inaugurate some stuff or other and end the buzullotti. Moreover his visit on campus was already in the public domain. It wasn't as if he was on some secret mission. If the student body had not already known about it I'm sure the Honourable Minister would have been very disappointed that no one turned up to applaud his great achievement.
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One expects the Institute of Journalists to express itself on the matter if this is the only reason why Mr Bonanno was sacked.
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The Times is a rag masquerading as a newspaper and is really a propoganda sheet...nothing more. I stopped reading and buying it some time ago.
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Demokrazija fl-aqwa taghha.
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Democracy - TOM's way!
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If Matthew Bonanno was on probation, there is nothing he can do legally - the employer has the right to terminate without giving any reason.
It should be his fellow journalists who stand up for him - if they have the guts.
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May I respond to all those saying that he deserved being sacked because he 'released information'. This so called information was already released in the Freshers Week Programme (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=1594012641474450), and therefore already public.
As for me I have decided not to read the Times anymore, good for you Maltaoday you just got yourself a new reader :)
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Utterly disgusting! The times is a totally biased newspaper that only reports what is suitable for the PN. I.e. the times does not ever publish the real things that put this government to shame.
It does not make sense that everytime there is a new banal course or stupid project launched at the university or elsewhere in the industry a minister has to be invited to open or launch it. It seems the times takes pride in reporting these banalities as if they were the success and main interest of the entire planet, journalism is much more than just event reporting.
About the way this young journalist was treated by the times is absurd. He should sue for compensation!
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The Mafia would love Guzeppi - they also think that nobody should ever give any information. They call it "omertà"
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Guzeppi, have you ever heard of something called "Whistleblower Act"?
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'@ ZURRIEQ BLUE
wHAT i WROTE TO ,''JUST RAY'' GOES FOR YOU TOO, i DON'T CARE ,IF IT WAS THE MINISTER, EVEN IF IT WAS THE pope!! , BUT REVEAL SOMETHING , SMALL OR BIG ,IT'S ALWAYS WRONG , THAT'S my point!! hope you all get what i' M saying!!
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The message is clear for those who have eyes and ears: you don´t mess with the PN. For what is the Times other than the PN noticeboard? But now, what will fellow journalists do? Will the Institute of Journalists launch an investigation? How will Bonanno be shown solidarity by his colleagues? Remember, his only crime was to say that Gatt was to visit the University on the next day. This was not a visit by Obama to the CIA regarding a covert operation to kill some Al Qaeda operative. This was a routine visit by a Minister to a public place regarding some ICT programme. Bonanno should of course obtain legal advice on this. But above all, young people are now seeing what the PN looks like without its mask.
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@just ray
it's not becuase it's special about '',the minister'', it's the PRINCIPAL of the thing, giving information is wrong, like I said to-day was this about the minister, BUT! what if it was something ,more serious, he would done the same, giving information ,is always wrong!
FOR ME '' SOMETHING WRONG IS ALWAYS WRONG'' WHATEVER IT IS ''
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@Zurrieq_Blues
@Just Ray
Buy this Maltatoday then. Its very Independent!
You are simply brainwashed by the PL!
Patricia Marsh •
@ Guzeppi. Int alright Guzepp dalghodu jew ghadek ma tafx x'laqtek. Can you at least tell us what sensitive information has he revealed. Eh ok, I got it....THE MOST ARROGRANT MINISTER VISITING THE UNIVERSITY. Whoever is employed at the The Times should always ring the PN's bell. Otherwise you'll be chucked out. That's why I never buy this PN machine propoganda newspaper.
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@ guzeppi
@ Mike Ellul ..
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Why sack him? What was so special about informing a friend that an arrogant minister (good for nothing) was going to be on a public visit at University?.
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Wish I new he was there for I would have supported her too.
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No more Times from now on and Matthew Bonanno should seek expert advice and go to court.
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Enough is more than enough!
Luke Camilleri •
Total Media Control...... from just across the road from the Times!
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He should never had,reveal any information,! Yes I'm glad he was sacked, because to-day was this information, what about in the future, he will keep doing it!! So the ''TIMES done the right thing, sacking him , Maybe he learned his lesson!!
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@Mike Ellul: Sensitive information? There were cameras, of course Austin Gatt would be there!
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@Maltabiss - It has nothing to do with democracy. Its about being professional.
Reveling sensitive information could lead to many bad things.
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Fascist bastards!
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Is this the democracy that those running The Times believe in?
