Labour complaint on TVAM, BA urges impartiality from broadcaster

The Broadcasting Authority has written to the Public Broadcasting Services reminding it to ensure it provides ample representation of political opinions on controversial issues, after the Labour party filed a complaint over TVM's breakfast show TVAM.

The BA said two particular editions of TVAM, dealing with the censure motion against former minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, and with the political repercussions of the vote, "some controversial comments were made that merited the presentation of contrasting opinions."

The BA also noted that "generally" there was a balanced representation of political parties on TVAM over the course of its broadcasts.

The complaint by Labour's communications chief Kurt Farrugia claimed that in one edition, the choice of RTK journalist Karl Wright and Malta Independent journalist Keith Micallef put the PL at a disadvantage, and that the TVAM producers did not make any reference to the Opposition's position on the motion it filed against Mifsud Bonnici in parliament.

In a subsequent edition, Farrugia argued that constitutional lawyer Austin Bencini's  observations on the ramifications of the vote against Mifsud Bonnici "included comments that were political and imbalanced."

Farrugia said it was not necessary to invite Labour party officials since there were various other academics or experts to discuss the constitutional aspect of the vote and other parliamentary developments.

On its part, PBS through its head of news Natalino Fenech said both Wright and Micallef hailed from independent media houses, and that their comments were made in the light of a developing political situation. "At no point were viewers misled since it was clear that TVM was following the situation as it developed."

Fenech also said that although Labour considered Austin Bencini's contribution as one borne out of Nationalist sympathies, "his intervention was an analytical one, having referred to procedures in Constitutional law, and his comments were academic."

The BA resolved to remind PBS of its obligation to ensure all opinions from the political spectrum are represented, with a view to respect its Constitutional obligation for impartiality.

In a statement, the Labour party insisted the BA had proved its complaints were well-founded.