Approval necessary for 'vulnerable' people to appear on TV

"Vulnerable" people will not be able to take part in PBS programmes without the approval of an official of Agenzija Appogg or another recognised agency.

PBS said yesterday this was one of the directives the editorial board gave all producers in a bid to protect vulnerable people.

Earlier this year, the editorial board published draft guidelines for consultation. The board is also cooperating with the Broadcasting Authority to create guidelines which protect "vulnerable" people and until then the board gave temporary guidelines to its producers.

The guidelines consider vulnerable people to be those who have problems, victims of abuse, people with mental or physical disability, prisoners, refugees and victims of usury, drugs and alcohol among others. The guidelines lay down that everything should be done to ensure that people taking part in programmes are aware of the implications of their participation and give free and informed consent.