Of freebies and pro EU reporting

It is rather surprising that our independent journalists and column writers did not create a fuss following the serious allegation made by Helena Dalli, Labour's spokesperson for women's rights and public service, in her contribution 'Freebies and Panegyrics' on maltastar.com on June 13.

I quote: "We know that quite a few of our local contributors have been, are, or are hoping to go on a freebie to Brussels. It is very easy to understand the motives of the hosts. Obviously the idea is to spoil a few hand-picked contributors with a treat. It would then be uncomfortable for the chosen to enjoy the freebie and return to one's desk to write a piece critical of the European Union. And there is no disguising the fact that the EU have a budget for buying favourable publicity. That is what communication theorists call payola journalism or chequebook journalism. The hosts know that when they hand out the junket in the form of air and hotel tickets, daily living and entertainment allowances, bad stories about them are unlikely to appear."

First of all let's banish the idea that the EU is the only institution that invites journalists to enjoy freebies. Every government in the world as well as international organisations have done it for years.

Among the most generous of the lot were the old Soviet Union and its satellite nations. Some of our local left wing writers and individuals very close to the MLP were the beneficiaries. Secondly, Ms Dalli needs to revisit her communication notes as payola journalism and chequebook journalism have nothing to do with freebies of the kind she refers to in her article.

Ms Dalli's piece is nothing else than an assault on the integrity and professionalism of our indepedent journalists and column writers. It is very much in the nature of the profession that such people apply and if successful go on familiarisation trips or whatever, to get first-hand knowledge and make contacts which of course are any writer's most valued tools for future reference.

The article leaves a bad taste whichever way it is understood. Is she saying that some of our journalists are up for sale? Throw them a few perks and they are anybody's?

Not quite, perhaps. Because Ms Dalli very generously introduced a caveat: "I believe that direct corruption is rare, where a writer is funded to place flattering stories. Far more common are the indirect financial and other benefits funded by those being reported on, in this case the EU."

She seems to have failed to notice that the freebies offered by the EU have also been on offer to journalists who work for the MLP but they were not allowed to apply. Did the MLP fear that a fortnight in Brussels would have resulted in some spectacular conversions?

Helena Dalli's contribution lacks consistency. In the same article she quotes Sky News thus: "We were given a breakdown of the huge amounts of money members of the European Parliament (MEPs) take in perks and allowances which are much, much higher than what they actually spend."

Now we all know that these perks and allowances are enjoyed by quite a few MEPs who are happy to participate in the gravy train but continue to berate the EU at every given opportunity. We had a few of them here by courtesy of the Campaign for National Independence. Obviously offering perks in return for pro-EU publicity has failed miserably in this instance.

Ms Dalli expresses her concern that as a result of the EU's largesse to selected journalists it is the public that loses out. This is rich coming from a spokesperson of a political party that finds no objection whatsoever in having within its fold a trade union that puts all its resources at the disposal of the party. Everyday the public is insulted by the GWU newspapers that boldly proclaim that they are independent and yet they are full of anti-PN propaganda and, what's more, the MLP has free access to precious space in these newspapers.

Has anybody heard Ms Dalli or anyone else in the MLP shout "democratic deficit" at the way the GWU papers are used to prop up their party even though these newspapers are paid for by MLP and PN members of the GWU alike?

Referring to the forthcoming meeting for the representation of civil society which will run parallel to the Future of Europe Convention, Ms Dalli predicts that a critical minority will voice its concerns while "the rest will be careful not to bite the hand that is feeding them".

She obviously speaks from direct experience given the way journalists for the Union Press portray the EU and the way in which the GWU took its decision to oppose EU membership. It is certainly a case of those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. I'm reliably assured that no journalist who has been to Brussels had any pressure put upon him on what to write or what to report.

As for me, I have been promoting the ideals and vision of the EU since the late '60s and I have never been offered any junket in any shape or form. At least I can expect not to be on Ms Dalli's blacklist of contributors who are prepared to sell their soul for a freebie or two.