Editor breached code of ethics

The Press Ethics Commission has found that the editor of the news portal Maltastar.com breached the journalistic principle of right of reply when he failed to publish a statement released by a ministry in reaction to allegations made.

On February 26, editor Kurt Farrugia commented about Investment Minister Austin Gatt - who is now Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communication - and made allegations regarding the financing of Mater Dei Hospital.

The following day the Minister issued a statement replying to the allegations through his press officer Jesmond Saliba. Mr Farrugia failed to give the minister the right of reply according to the Code of Journalistic Ethics, the commission found.

It decided that Mr Farrugia had breached the code. It added that the ministry's reply had, however, overstepped the mark since not all the content of its statement constituted a reply to Mr Farrugia's comments.