PBS head of news says Labour accusations are 'baseless'

The head of news of the Public Broadcasting Services has responded to a complaint by the Labour party, saying accusations of broadcasting imbalance are "baseless".

In a letter to Labour communications coordinator Kurt Farrugia, Natalino Fenech said he failed to understand why the station was being accused of imbalance for hosting finance minister Tonio Fenech in a televised interview on Sunday.

"The minister was asked questions that the public wants answered, such as the budget's emphasis, its priorities, and what will happen on the utility rates. These are the same issues labour is talking about. The fact that the minister is asked questions on a budget that the government is presenting, is no shortcoming."

Fenech also said t was not the first time that TVM journalists are sent on overseas assignments. "I can't see why Labour should object to our audience being given a picture of what is happening outside Malta by TVM journalists."

Labour's complaint refers to overseas assignments by PBS in Athens and Madrid to interview people in the street affected by spending cuts and the sovereign debt crisis in Spain and Greece.

"The PBS newsroom is being used in a partisan manner using the two links to Madrid and Athens where the message was part of a political strategy for the party-in-government to compare the country with troubled eurozone nations, with the aim of pushing the budget debate with agenda-setting measures that go against the spirit of balanced broadcasting," Farrugia said in a letter to PBS head of news Natalino Fenech.

Fenech said TVM would have no problem in offering any remedy to the alleged imbalance if this was required. "As you know I informed you last week how we will be reporting the Budget and it was only recently that you confirmed who the Labour speakers will be to comment on our programmes," Fenech said.