Education Minister asks Lou Bondì to ‘regulate’ himself in his blogs

Education Minister Dolores Cristina has confirmed that she asked Bondiplus presenter Lou Bondi to refrain from blogging on issues which could affect the Public Broadcasting Services in any way.

In the past weeks, the Where's Everybody director faced criticism by Nationalist MP Franco Debono of using the state media to carry his personal agenda. The same accusation was made by the Labour Party, which has complained of imbalance in their regard several times.

This time, however, it was Bondì's blog which attracted the attention of Cristina, who happens to be the minister responsible for PBS.

In his blog, Bondì has the tendency to hit out at individuals he might not agree with, with his subjects associated mostly with the Labour Party but also Nationalist MPs Franco Debono and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

Asked by MaltaToday to confirm that she confronted Bondì  and asked him to refrain from blogging on issues which could place him in an uncomfortable position with PBS, Cristina said: "It is true that I had a meeting with Lou Bondì recently but at no point was this meeting confrontational."

She went on to explain directives which PBS employees and independent producers should adhere to.

"PBS has an Editorial Board, a Board of Directors and a CEO, who regularly draw up directives regulating the contributions and activities of the employees and independent producers," she said.

Cristina explained that the directives take into consideration the impact such activities and contributions may have on PBS.

"The responsibility for these directives rests with PBS. As the Minister responsible for PBS I expect all employees and contributors to fall in line with these directives as laid down," she warned.

Bondì's role as presenter on PBS was recently questioned by the Opposition's spokesman for media Gino Cauchi when, in an interview broadcast on Net TV, Bondì said he would be voting PN in the forthcoming general election.

Quoting from the law which regulates the broadcasting sector, Cauchi accused Bondì of "challenging the law, and PBS was an accomplice".

On those known to the public primarily as presenters of, or reporters on, news programmes or programmes about current affairs broadcast on the public service broadcaster, the broadcasting law makes it clear such individuals must be seen to be impartial, including when partaking in private activities such as writing, speaking or giving interviews.