Joseph Sammut appointed head of PBS editorial board

The government has announced the new board of directors for the Public Broadcasting Services' editorial and commercial managements boards, in a move that stamps a flavour of the new government on the contentious public broadcasting sector.

Joseph Sammut, who serves as Caritas Malta's fund raising executive and public relations manager, will head the editorial board.

Sammut was formerly chief executive of Malta International Airport, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and head of sales at Air Malta. He served on the Broadcasting Authority's board as well as having been head of news at Radju Malta.

He will be joined by former Labour organ Kullhadd editor Felix Agius, and Dr Martin Fenech, former PN candidate.

A new review board will be appointed shortly that will usher in new laws on public broadcasting, the government said in its statement.

As already announced, Tonio Portughese, human resources chief at ST Microelectronics, will served as chairman of PBS's board of directors. He takes the helm from Joseph Mizzi, owner of Midsea Books.

Albert Marshall, formerly PBS chairman during the Labour government of 1996 and 1998, will serve as deputy chairman.

The new PBS directors are columnist and lawyer Claire Bonello, playwright Tony Cassar Darien, former PN candidate Dr Frank Portelli, Edward Cassar Delia, Paul Vella and Adriana Zarb Adami.