PBS enforces BA code only during elections

The Public Broadcasting Services has stated it only enforces the impartiality of its TV presenters during elections, referring to accusations made by Labour MP Gino Cauchi that the national broadcaster was not adhering to Section 19 of the Broadcasting Act regulating the standards and practices of broadcasters in the national TV station.

In an unsigned statement, PBS said that Section 19 “is not enforceable” by the Broadcasting Authority but that TVM enforces it when there is some kind of election in the country.

“It is ironic that when Lou Bondì said he was in favour of divorce, Labour said nothing because Bondì’s position was congruent with Labour’s,” PBS said.

“This concerted attack on popular TVM presenters Peppi Azzopardi, Lou Bondì and TVM news has nothing to do with balance in broadcasting but with audiences. We have improved audience share and attracting bette quality productions. These have a negative impact on competing TV stations who lose audience and advertising revenue, which PBS believes is the real reason for this harsh, orchestrated campaign.”

Labour MP Gino Cauchi has asked the Broadcasting Authority to get the Public Broadcasting Services in line with broadcasting legislation, over its accusations of partiality by Where’s Everybody directors Lou Bondì and Peppi Azzopardi.

Speaking after an admission by Azzopardi of having coached Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando to face down former Labour leader Alfred Sant in the run-up to the 2008 election, Cauchi said the BA had to enforce section 19 of the Broadcasting Act’s subsidiary legislation on standards and practice. [READ – opens PDF]

The legislation states that those known to the public primarily as presenters of current affairs programmes on PBS must be seen to be impartial. “It is important that no off-air activity, including writing, the giving of interviews or the making of speeches, leads to any doubt about their objectivity on-air. If such presenters or reporters publicly express personal views off-air on controversial issues, then their on-air role may be severely compromised.”

The law further states that such presenters must not state their voting preferences, express themselves in favour of any policy in a matter of current party debate, advocate any particular position on an issue of current public controversy or debate, or exhort a change in high-profile public policy.

“It is the BA’s obligation to see that the law is followed. PBS appears to be out of control and degenerating into an arm of the Nationalist Party,” Cauchi said. 

Cauchi said Labour had already complained to PBS chairman Joseph Mizzi, copying articles from Bondì’s personal blog in which he criticised Labour policies, MPs and the Opposition leader, but had not received any acknowledgement from the station.

He also said that Bondì had declared himself publicly on Net TV that he would vote for the Nationalist Party, and that Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando had testified in court that Peppi Azzopardi had coached him in how to face down Alfred Sant during a Broadcasting Authority press conference.

“Azzopardi is therefore admitting he had a crucial role in coaching PN members during the election. Additionally, he produced influential programmes during the 2008 elections, including debates between the two leaders, that were crucial in making people’s minds up,” Cauchi said.

Azzopardi’s role in coaching Pullicino Orlando during the Mistra scandal was revealed in court during the sitting for a libel suit against Mediatoday managing editor Saviour Balzan, by Richard Cachia Caruana, Malta’s permanent representative to the EU.