Editorial

The Press Ethics Commission has a new chairman and it is being suggested that the name is changed to Media Ethics Commission because complaints do not relate solely to the press but to all media.

The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM) also intends "to take a lead to bring about a harmonisation among the various codes of ethics in the country, whether they are those of individual stations/media houses, political parties or the Broadcasting Authority".

Institute chairman Malcolm J. Naudi referred to the premature resignation of the PEC in 2009. Its members resigned last summer "after a PEC decision was leaked to the media", according to the IĠM website. It is fair to ask whether an inquiry was held to find out who was responsible for such a leak and to make any recommendations deemed fit. If such an inquiry was held, were its findings made public? If not, why?

Journalists but, more so, the public would rightly expect such a course of action if trust in both the ethics commission and the IĠM is to be safeguarded.

That, however, should in no way reflect on the new commission, which, in the circumstances, has indeed quite a feat ahead. It must not only gain lost ground brought about by the "leak" incident but also propose and push for changes that are already necessary and will continue to become even more essential as the media landscape on this tiny island continues to evolve.

Perhaps the new commission would consider launching a public consultation exercise. After all, the media is there to serve the public, even if there are media houses whose main role is to serve as propaganda agents for their owners: the political parties. However, the public must be convinced that the media is committed to high standards, irrespective of obstacles or problems along the way, which, admittedly, are many and varied.

If the new media ethics commission decides to take this route, it may want to consult two documents that could shed some light on press standards, self-regulation and the Maltese media landscape. The report by the House of Commons' Culture, Media and Sport Committee, entitled, Press Standards, Privacy And Libel, published earlier this year, and Allied Publications' book Exploring The Maltese Media Landscape should make good reading and, more importantly, also serve as eye-openers.

The book gives rise to the question: Is the media in Malta a true reflection of society and does it have a responsibility to try to change that society for the better? To do that it must uphold the highest standards possible and ensure effective self-regulation.

The report by the Committee of the House of Commons contains some interesting proposals one may wish to adopt and adapt to.

To conclude, two specific suggestions the new ethics commission could consider and work on as a matter of urgency: Lobby for all media houses to include a code of ethics/conduct in journalists' employment contracts and make all freelancers, columnists and bloggers commit to such code and, two, encourage media houses to appoint an independent Readers'/Audience Ombudsman.

If the media loses the trust of society it is there to serve, it loses the right to function.