Editorial

Are local television programmes targeting children entertaining them or harming them? This is a very valid question considering the importance of television in the lives of children nowadays. The Commissioner for Children, Carmen Zammit, thinks that there are TV programmes that cause more harm than they entertain and has made this clear in a public declaration a few days ago.

Ms Zammit listed three kinds of programmes which, in her opinion, are having a negative impact on children. These are programmes that (i) portray children in a harmful or inappropriate manner; (ii) encourage children to participate in age-inappropriate behaviour and (iii) "other series broadcast on local channels which exploit the vulnerability of certain sectors of the child population with an ensuing negative impact on their well-being".

The commissioner deserves to be heard and her comments to be taken seriously. It would, however, certainly be more appropriate and fair were she to be more specific when making such declarations.

In this case, she twice referred to "a number of local television programmes" without indicating which programmes she was talking about. Speaking in general terms is definitely not enough. The protection of children asks for much more than that.

The statement says that "it would appear that not all parents are equally aware of the repercussions which the encouragement of precocious behaviour may have on their children". True, not all parents are media educated enough to be aware of the effects of TV on their children. Those who use TV as a baby sitter are the worst offenders. Those who do not discuss the choice and content of programmes with their children are also shirking their responsibilities. Part of their blame could be shifted on schools administrators, especially state school ones, who do not give importance to media education although it was mandated in all schools by the national curriculum almost 10 years ago.

The commissioner also said that "not all producers are attuned to the impact their choice of subject matter may have on vulnerable adolescents". Worse still, there are signs which show that many producers don't care. Last September two English experts came to Malta on the invitation of the Broadcasting Authority, the Commissioner for Children and the Ministry for Education and Culture and facilitated a course about children's programmes. Only producers from TVM and Education 22 attended the course.

The statement by the Commissioner for Children does not make any reference to the regulator, that is, the Broadcasting Authority. It has at least four codes or guidelines, which, in one way or another, aim towards protecting minors. Does the statement by the Commissioner for Children mean that the regulator is not putting into practice its own codes and therefore is not protecting children? Or does the statement mean that there are aspects or situations that are not covered by any code or guideline? Since the statement by the commissioner does not refer to specific programmes it is difficult to answer such questions.

The Commissioner for Children is therefore exhorted to follow her first statement with other more specific ones so that the debate continues and practical steps are taken. Children deserve nothing less.