OPM reacts to journalists' comments

The Prime Minister's Office said yesterday that while it was committed to provide access to information, it expected professional and prudent behaviour from all journalists.

It referred to statements by the Journalists' Committee and the Institute of Maltese Journalists over a decision taken by the OPM during a press conference on Wednesday evening, in which journalists working for different media under the same ownership or organisation were not allowed to field separate questions.

The two bodies issued their statements following a complaint from One News that their journalist was not allowed to field a question.

The OPM said that the allocated time for a live press conference could not be surpassed. So the number of questions at that news conference had to be limited to one question each from five journalists but journalists could get the Prime Minister's comments following the broadcast.

It said that before the conference started, the journalists were informed of how the news conference was to be managed and no one of those present objected.

The questions were asked in this order: - RTK, Kullhadd (two questions and a supplementary question), The Times, The Malta Independent and Net TV.

The journalist from In-Nazzjon was not given permission to field his question because of time constraints and the l-orizzont journalist was not interested in putting a question.

The One News and Kullhadd journalists arrived for the conference when the special arrangement had already been reached.

When the Prime Minister was answering the final questions, the One News journalist started protesting and interrupting in an unprofessional behaviour, the OPM said.

At that time, the OPM's communication and media secretary tried to explain to the journalist that he would be able to get a comment from the Prime Minister following the conference because of broadcasting time constraints.

Following the conference, the journalist ran to the Prime Minister and in an imprudent and aggressive manner tried to keep him from entering his office, the OPM said.