The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) yesterday cautiously backed Lou Bondì in his complaint against PBS editorial board chairman John Camilleri who ordered the subject of the December 19 edition of Bondiplus to be changed, adding that PBS was within its rights to order such a change. The IGM said it received a complaint from Mr Bondì on Wednesday over the PBS decision.
It said it made several attempts yesterday and the day before to contact Mr Camilleri but, after leaving both messages and e-mails, it had to go ahead with making its stand known without having had the benefit of asking him specific questions related to the case.
The IGM said the subject chosen by Where's Everybody? for the December 19 edition of Bondiplus was a valid one because it is a case of national importance involving the resignation of a government minister, namely John Dalli.
The fact that the subject of a programme refused to appear on that programme - as is his right - should not lead to the cancellation of that programme, the IGM said. It said the IGM has taken legal advice to the effect that it is the duty of journalists to bring to public attention elements of sub judice cases that are of national importance and public interest, and this holds true not just in Malta but at the European level. "A discussion can take place on live television, and in the media generally, without in any way influencing the court process," it said.
PBS, as the main state broadcasting station, should ensure that any programme on such an issue of national importance should be presented by someone with no links with the case if it wants to maintain its credibility and fulfil its national role, the IGM said.
"It may have to consider carrying this particular subject in another programme because of its national importance. Mr Bondì cannot deny that Joe Zahra has had links with his company and any allegations of conflict of interest that Mr Bondì may level against Mr Camilleri do not minimise Mr Bondì's own situation," it said.
"Ultimately, according to the verbal contract Where's Everybody? has with PBS for the production and broadcast of Bondiplus for the nine months between October 2006 and June 2007, each programme proposal has to be subject to approval by the PBS editorial board.
"The contract the IGM was shown lists 'reasonable objection' as a valid way to have the topic of a programme changed; that the PBS editorial board will not 'unreasonably withhold' its approval for any programme topic; and any 'reasonable grounds' should be specified in writing," the IGM said.
It said these clauses in the contract appear to have been followed.
"Yet, it would have been in the public interest and also in PBS's interest had it continued as it has done in the past and come to some form of agreement with Mr Bondì for the programme to have been broadcast with all the safeguards in place. Should Mr Bondì feel that his or Where's Everybody?'s rights to freedom of expression have been trampled upon by PBS, he can have recourse to the courts and institute proceedings for such breach," it added.
The IGM statement was issued by its chairman, Malcolm Naudi.
The producers of Bondiplus later thanked the IGM for upholding its claims on a number of counts.
They also noted that the IGM commented that PBS "may have to consider carrying this particular subject in another programme" because Mr Zahra had been a technical consultant with Where's Everybody? until July 2004. They considered this unreasonable "because the Joe Zahra case was not going to be the issue in the proposed programme".