Press Ethics Commission censures TV journalist

The Press Ethics Commission has strongly censured Super 1 journalist Charlon Gouder for his behaviour in regard to the broadcasting of a recorded telephone call with the treasurer of the Nationalist Party, Peter Darmanin.

The PEC said it met on October 2 to consider a complaint by Mr Darmanin against Mr Gouder.

The commission said the complaint was over the broadcasting of a telephone call made by Mr Gouder to Mr Darmanin and broadcast on Super 1 TV and Super 1 Radio on August 1 and 8.

It said Mr Gouder's broadcasting of the telephone call and his failure to request permission to record the telephone call conversation was in breach of clause 4 of the Institute of Maltese Journalists' Code of Ethics.

It added that Mr Gouder did not attend the commission meeting when the complaint was discussed and had told the commission secretary that "probably he would not be attending".

After hearing Mr Darmanin's version, which version was not contradicted, the commission concluded that Mr Gouder had breached the Code of Ethics.