Journalists criticise ceremony logistics

The Institute of Maltese Journalists yesterday condemned the way journalists and cameramen were treated by the Department of Information while they were reporting President's inauguration ceremony.

Numerous reports of incidents between DOI officials and representatives of the press and broadcasting media on duty reached the IĠM Council.

Details of where cameramen, journalists and photographers were to stay were agreed during meetings held a day earlier, but the agreement was not honoured by DOI officials, the IĠM said.

Journalists were relegated to the last row in the Grand Council Chamber where they could hardly hear the speeches as they were delivered. When the journalists protested with senior DOI officials, they were informed that the Office of the President was responsible for the arrangements.

Journalists also complained because cameramen working for Where's Everybody were allowed access to areas that were out of bounds to cameramen - excluding the ones with the State broadcaster - from other media houses.