Politics, the media and the citizen

It is a few minutes after noon on a Sunday morning. The Leader of the Opposition has just finished his address at the party's political activity for the day and is starting to leave the Labour Party Club. A journalist approaches and rams his microphone straight into the Labour leader's mouth, in such a rude and undignified manner that one would be excused if one thought that the journalist's intention was to make the politician swallow it wholesale.

The journalist asks the politician a question. The MLP leader politely informs the journalist he has no comment to make and that will be all, thanks. Undeterred, the journalist continues to hassle the Leader of the Opposition until the latter enters his car and drives away.

Later that Sunday evening, I switch on the television for the early evening news on Net TV. Incredibly, given that there are so many issues of national importance to report upon, the first and main news item is an attack on the Leader of the Opposition because he refused to answer a journalist's question! Disgusted, I switch channels and wonder what political journalism in Malta is coming to insofar as certain journalists and news editors go.

In many European Union countries, a journalist behaving in a rude and unethical manner towards a major political personality such as the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Opposition would be lucky to escape being severely manhandled by the politician's bodyguards!

Let me make it clear. I am against such journalistic behaviour whether the person at the receiving end of such hassling is the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister or some other politician. I believe all persons holding high office, irrespective of their political colour, should be accorded the respect due to their exalted position in the country. I also expect that citizens be presented with items of news value by the media and not nonsensical items of no news value at all!

Another aspect of Maltese political journalism that I find particularly disappointing is the overexposure of certain journalists. It is nauseating to have several items of the evening news reported upon by the same journalist who then supplements this by being the anchor(wo)man in one or two political chat shows.

Even if such a journalist is the brightest on the islands, the final product is bound to be influenced by his/her interpretation and presentation of the facts. It would be far more enriching if several journalists with their uniquely different professional approaches and methodology were to be involved in the creation of the final product presented to the public.

A related controversial issue regards the selection of guests on political chat shows. I find it incredible that out of a population which now exceeds 400,000, it is always the same people who are invited to give their opinion on political discussion programmes. We are speaking here of a pool of about 100 people who seem to be experts in all aspects of politics.

Which brings me to another important related topic. I once attended a political activity involving the three major political parties where one member of the audience suggested that the political parties should vet those of their members invited to participate in television and radio political discussion programmes. If necessary, a member could be barred from participating if the administration of the party so decided. I am totally against this.

If we want more people to participate in politics and not have the popular apathy towards all aspects of politics that reigns in the country at present, we need to hear new voices and see new faces during political discussion programmes on radio and television.

The political parties belong to the people. Il-partit (the party) is not an abstract concept. It is the members who make up the political party. Leave them totally free to express their opinions, their frustrations, their disagreements in public. That is a healthy sign of a democratic and vibrant political party.

To conclude, I reiterate that here in Malta we need better quality political journalism. However, this alone is not enough. We need to involve as many people as possible in the whole process. Let us eliminate once and for all the monopoly certain journalists seem to enjoy in reporting political facts and events. Let us involve as many people as possible in political media events and productions. Let the political parties encourage open public discussion among their members.

Today, we are living in an age where no self-respecting citizen will be content with second-class political journalism, with monopolies in the interpreting and reporting of political events, with being presented with the opinions of the same people over and over again, with being silenced by one's own political party when one wants to speak out.