Friday, 6th November 2009 - 09:51CET

Press bodies slam student newspaper ban

Christian Peregin

The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM), the Journalists’ Committee and the Malta Youth Press yesterday came out disagreeing with the ban of the student newspaper Realtà.

The newspaper was banned from the University campus because of a short story it contained dealing with adult themes of sexual violence using crude, colloquial language and pornographic descriptions.

The Journalists’ Committee said the ban revealed “the confessional shift in Maltese politics” because the police were being made to intervene on “offensive” literature despite the fact that freedom of expression included the freedom to offend.

A spokesman for the committee said that if the University rector believed “obscene” material should not be read by University students this was a “patronising” attitude that the Education Minister should be looking into.

“At this rate, why not ban Bret Easton Ellis and Irvine Welsh books for the obscenities they write about?”

A spokesman for the Malta Youth Press, which is part of the IGM, said there was no way the newspaper should have been banned or censored, especially since this was an independent publication and that the short story was literature, not news.

“I just think they should have put a disclaimer on the front page to warn about the language used. But, anyway, it shouldn’t have been censored,”

Keith Demicoli, the president, said.

“We strongly believe that freedom of expression and speech should prevail,” he said, adding “that being said, I am not keen on reading such literature and I find it low.”

The University explained yesterday that the publication was banned after the Rector was advised that the article entitled 'Li Tkisser Sewwi' might constitute a violation the Press Act and the Criminal Code. There was no indication on the front cover or on the page containing the article that the material was ‘adult' reading.

It said the Rector was obliged to consider the legal aspects which may affect the University and to protect underage visitors to campus from writing which was for adult consumption only.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Monday, November 23, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

M Debono (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

I have read the article and believe me even the most unscrupoulous person doesn't talk that way. We all know sex is the most common thing on earth and since it was no forced sex (though some actions mentioned were not wished by the other person) who am I to condem the actions. However, the words used are so crude and much worse than seeing the actions done. It is not fit for anyone to read such an article, whatever the age! I just say this, if I was one of the women mentioned in the article, I certainly wouldn't want our sex to be described that way!!!

AJ Anastasi (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

All rubbish should be where it belongs; in the dustbin. AJA.

S. Calleja (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@Rev Joe Inguanez

One cannot have freedom of expression without the freedom to offend. Maybe the words were not carefully chosen, but what I think they meant is "the freedom to publish material that may be offensive to some", rather than the freedom to offend on a personal level, directed at one particular individual.

Offense is a subjective feeling, and what may offend someone may not offend somebody else. For instance, I may have been offended by your comment, which was not addressed at me in particular, but I must accept your freedom to post it.

Yes, I might feel offended by some things which are published, but I respect their right to be published. This is what makes us (hopefully) mature citizens; accepting diversity of views without taking it further. All this within the context of protecting children from content which can be harmful to their development. But as adults, we should be (and I hope we are) above this.

Aidan Zammit Lupi (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Since when has university literature been considered as reading for children? Most of it is of no interest even to the average man in the street. "Adult themes of sexual violence using crude, colloquial language and pornographic descriptions" are present in many of the world's great works of literature.Are they going to be banned, just in case a kid gets his hands on a book at the university library?

The university should be a beacon for free thinking, creativity and expression. Closed minds should have no place in such an institution.

Even common reading material like novels by John Grisham or Ken Follett sometimes feature bad language and detailed sexual descriptions. It's no big deal. While we're at it let's ban books by Bukowski, Irving, Vonnegut, Salinger, Suskind, Burroughs... the list could go on and on.

Where does the censorship stop?

Anyway, a child is more likely to pick up his mum's copy of Cosmopolitan, rather than read a university student newspaper. Try stopping the ladies from buying their Cosmo - that's when we'll see a big uproar!

Matthew Vella (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@ Rev Joe Inguanez

The Journalists Committee was not created to have its own 'ethics commission' - but to defend press freedoms.

But leaving ethics aside... the freedom to offend is best encapsulated by the European human rights court judgment of 1976 - Handyside vs UK: "freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 10 of the ECHR is not only applicable: 'to information or ideas that are favourably received or regarded as inoffensive or as a matter of indifference but also to those that offend, shock or disturb. Such are the demands of that pluralism, tolerance and broad-mindedness without which there is no democratic society."

I think Rushdie was more succinct: "What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist."

Michel Zampa (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

This debate was dealt with in the seventies except in countries where the religion still has difficulty in letting go of the influence it held over many aspects of society. The last I heard, UfM is a public institution and therefore open to all. The attitude of the University is a very dangerous one as it puts limits on thoughts and expression. The only alternative in a country like Malta is to leave and study elsewhere. If those in the University hierarchy are unhappy with providing freedoms guaranteed under the European constitution for publich instituions, they should try founding their own private school established on the limitations of Human Rights.

Franco Farrugia (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

I have read various parts of the text in question.
So, according to the law, it is ok to halt some literature that goes against coloured people - we call that racism.
But we do not dare halt a dirty piece of garbage, which goes against the dignity of the woman's person!
I would like to hear some comments coming from th gentle sex, after their having read the piece in its totality!
The writer, in my opinion, was a fool to write out the piece, but had every right to do so. But for an editor - and anyway, who is this 21 yr old editor!? - to deem it fit to be published is where I stop!

J Galea (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

This ban makes us look like a Mickey Mouse country. Censorship is opression.

REv Joe Inguanez (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

IF YOU HAVE TEARS PREPARE TO SHED THEM NOW.
I cannot comment on the contents of the banned REALTA".... so I cannot pass judgment, though I must admit that I trust the Rector's judgment!

However, I have read the Journalists’ Committee statement that "freedom of expression included the freedom to offend". Does this Journalists’ Committee have an ethics committee? What is their philosophy of law?

David Stephen Ganado (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@ J Farrugia - Have you actually read the 'offending' article? Are you sure the intent of the write was to insult women etc. ? If not, then please spare us your comments. Only those who actually read the article can really say how bad or not it is. Whatever the case, freedom of expression is there for a reason. If you dont like what is written, DONT READ IT! Leave the rest of us alone to make up our own minds!!

N. Borg (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Quite fitting that there is a play on this weekend called "Censor Me!"

http://www.mymaltainfo.com/events/Censor-Me-6-November-2009.cfm

Andre` Schembri (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@J Farrugia hadt ma qallek li hawn xi hadt ilfuq minn haddiehor ; just qallu li kullhadd ghandu il-liberta li jesprimi ruhu ... inkella qed nghixu fera ta falsita fej kullhadd jghidilna li liberi u kullhadd jgholina bispaga skond kif jidirlu li l-ahhjar li nghixu ; darba ghax ir-religjuzi jiehdu ghallijhom, u daqqa ghax xi hadt bxi modd stramb jaqra artiklu kontra is-sessizmu sessist , u daqqa ghax il-prim jiddeccidi li jekk nitkellmu kontra xi haga tmur kontra l-interess tal-pajjizz etc etc ...

anyways jekk qrajt l-artiklu tinduna li hija narrazzjoni ta sex maniac so nissponi biex tispjegga kif jahseb sex maniac trid tikteb xjghid sex maniac inkella ma iddahlekx fl-istorja , so nissponi li ir-raguni ghala gie ippublikat dak l-artiklu huwa biex jiddisgusta lin nies minn dak it-tip ta hsieb... li let's face it it-tv specjalment taljan(ezempju studio aperto) iggallek tahseb li kwazi mintiex normali jekk ma tahsiebx hekk ...

Antoine Pulis (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

I agree with malta youth press that while expression of speech should prevail, he personally finds this piece of article low. I also agree that there should have been a dislaimer.

MBorg (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

"Freedom of expression included freedom to offend," Who gives you the right ,just because you happen to be journalists, to offend our morals with your writings.

You admit that this short story used crude,colloquial language and had pornographic descriptions . The ractor acted wisely when he banned the newspaper "Realta" This newspaper is even distributed to Junior Lyceum students. Is this the picture we want to hand to our young generation? Is thiswhat we need to give our university students to help them in the future?

I admire Mr Keith Demicoli for not being afraid to give his views, by stating that he does"not read such literature and that he finds it low". A sentiment which is shared by many. There is nothing elevating in a short story which insults women in the most obsceme manner.

Mark Seychell (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Indeed who are we to trample up the various freedoms for for and won by our forefathers? However, our freedoms must be RESPECTED and not abused as they have clearly been with this article. I mentioned our forefathers...if there was any way of knowing that their hard work was being abused in this fashion, they would be turning in their graves!

J.Tonna (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

All I say is well done to authorities that banned this rubbish.

lorraine anastasi (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

These are University students we're talking about not kindergarten kids! They're old enough to vote, old enough to move out of the family home, ADULTS who decide for themselves what to read or not read! But some people still think that certain types of literature can be censored. Pls whoever you are, GROW UP, get a life this is 2009 not 1809!!

Kenneth Cassar (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@ Ernest Vella:

Il-livell ma tiddettahx int.

Kenneth Cassar (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

@ J Farrugia:

Please note that no law was actually broken. Read the Rector's clarification of yesterday.

Ernest Vella (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Dawn bis-serjeta....Disclaimer ta x'hiex....li mhux bilfors jaqblu ma dak li hemm miktub? U halluna ddahkuniex...Gurnalisti ta 4 soldi ghandna Malta....mela dik kitba ta quddiem in-nies...mela tista tghid li jekk tkellem lecturer hazin u toffendih m'ghandux dritt jissospendik....tridu tkun ta wara l-muntanji biex tghidu li ghandkom id-dritt tiktbu dik l-oxxenita tal-misthija....inzommu l-livell l-ahwa....mhux bizzejjed hawn gazzetti indipendenti li jzommu ma partit jew iehor...dan jonqos

vICTOR vELLA (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

One could expect that from university students they have to make the distinction between written and colloquial language. From the university's side they have to be cautious to abolish such a paper from the university campus. We are living in a democratic country and to critisize in healthy always in an educated manner.

J Brincat (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

When will we ever grow up and liberate our cobwebbed minds?

J Farrugia (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

So these press non entities agree that the media is to be used in an obscene manner, in foul mouthed blasphemies, and insulting women with their intimate parts. No wonder the media is the most hated medium in our society. So thee press bodies and their newly mushroomed mates, agree that it is lawful to break our laws with impunity because they are "journalists". The law is there for everyone under the sun, including erring so-called journalists. They are no privileged citizens of our society. and sometimes they are the lowest basest people in our midst. Ridiculing everything that is sacred in our hearts.

Christian Sciberras (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

You know what next?

We need to implement "Freedom To Hit People".

I, for one would vote for that.

Joseph Mizzi (2 weeks, 3 days ago)

" “We strongly believe that freedom of expression and speech should prevail,” he [Keith Demicoli] said, adding “that being said, I am not keen on reading such literature and I find it low.” "

At least, Mr. Demicoli, you had the opportunity to read the story and form your opinion.

Many of us have been banned from reading it, and thus we cannot express our opinion, thanks to the patronising "authorities".

Press bodies slam student newspaper ban

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