PL protests to PBS on Budget run-up coverage
The Labour Party has protested to PBS over what it said was imbalance in the state broadcaster's coverage in the run-up to the Budget.
The party's communications director, Kurt Farrugia, said PBS gave secondary coverage to a PL press conference and no comments were taken from any of the PL speakers who addressed the conference. The coverage also left out a number of important issues raised by the PL speakers.
Mr Farrugia asked PBS for an urgent remedy and asked for such behaviour to stop especially during the debate on the budget and related affairs.
He said the PBS coverage was so intent on its partisan agenda of mitigating the importance of the PL's message that the news item was not even a feature but a short report.
The imbalance and contrast became clearer during yesterday's news bulletin and the prominence the Finance Minister was given when interviewed in the PBS studio to the background of unsolicited live reports from Spain and Greece.
The minister was given all the opportunity to express political points which tagged the government's line in preparation for the budget speech today. The interview was more like a ministerial statement, the PL said.
It said that the minister's opinions were not contrasted and the opinion of the Labour Party was nowhere to be seen.
The only coverage the PL was given on Sunday was a report of the Labour leader's speech on the same day, which report was balanced and contrasted with a similar report of the Prime Minister's speech.
Mr Farrugia said the people, had a right to public broadcasting which served as a means of fair information and not as propaganda for the party in government.
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Claudio Cilia
Nov 15th 2011, 16:18
Come on PL.. you're being foolish ..Leave PBS alone ,they are doing their job , and doing it well ..why all this ..cause super one can't keep up with the quality? Sigh..
Daniel Dimech
Nov 16th 2011, 06:36
le ghax sippost il pbs ghandu jkun ibbilancjat mhux net 2..... l ahjar ma tara xejn imsomma
Jane Mizzi
Nov 14th 2011, 20:26
If you can't beat them - bring them down no? LOL
John Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 19:02
Halluna Hal.... dejjem tgergru konta l-PBS...... nixba nara laburisti jitkellmu fuq il-PBS.... f'kull programm, f'kull hin. Anke prezentaturi laburisti ghandhom ilk-PBS iccekkjaw min hemm hbieb tas-sit Labour Pride fuq facebook u taraw prezentatrici popolari li sa ftit taz-zmien ilu kienet taqra l-ahbarijiet. Ghandhom ghalfejn jeqirdu l-lejber ukoll. dejjem iridu iktar. Halluna nghixu... jeqirdu ghax bhatu gurnalist Spanja. M'ghadux jiftahar bil-PM spanjol zapatero joseph muscat?
C Galea
Nov 14th 2011, 19:13
Ask Franco Debono how PBS are doing .Did you hear him when he was talking in parliament or maybe you were overseas
John Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 20:15
Yeah, Franco Debono said PBS today was like PBS in the 1980s. How old was franco Debono in the 1980s? 10 years old maybe? Does he remember the run rabbit run and Bongu Malta Socjalista? Franco Debono was probably complaining because they don't feature him often enough! Whenever you see him, you see him looking to see where the camera is so that people see him.
Wilfred Camilleri
Nov 14th 2011, 18:51
Can't Muscat and his band of sulking MPs concentrate on things that are important instead of constantly complaining about coverage on PBS?
d. attard
Nov 14th 2011, 18:36
Saw the PBS...was indeed, in my opinion, both shocking and shameless
H. Psaila
Nov 14th 2011, 19:51
Shocking and shameless was Xandir Malta when during an particular election, with not even one count from the counting hall, on our National TV at that time, two personalities singing the Labour anthem and behind them a Labour flag. This was all on National TV and you have the guts to say that it what you saw recently was shocking and shameless.
Matthew Tanti
Nov 14th 2011, 18:15
tajjeb li fl ahbarjiet tal pbs jigu rapurtati ahbarjiet minn pajjizi barranin. Biss il prijorita tax xandir nazzjonali ghandha tkun li zzomm bilanc bejn gvern u movimenti li jopponuh, sabiex il poplu jkollu taghrif holistiku u tigi zgurata d demokrazija. Jekk il bilanc ma jkunx milhuq mill istazzjon tal istat ma jkollniex demorkazija vera.
Joe Debono
Nov 14th 2011, 18:46
Prosit sur Tanti!
Matthew Tanti
Nov 14th 2011, 17:55
Tajjeb li fl-ahbarjiet tal-PBS jigi rrapurtat dak li qed jigri f'pajjizi barranin ohra. Biss fl-opinjoni tieghi, il-prijotita' tax-xandir nazzjonali ghandha tkun li zzomm bilanc bejn dak li qed jghid il-gvern u dak li qieghdin jghidu l-movimenti l-ohra kollha li qed jopponuh sabiex il-poplu jkollu taghrif holistiku. Hekk tigi zgurata d-demokrazzija, ghax jekk dan il-bilanc jigi imminat, f'pajjizna ma jkollniex demokrazija vera.
freddie debattista
Nov 14th 2011, 17:33
insewh zmienom bis-suldat mal-bieb tax-xandir
Mike Gatt
Nov 14th 2011, 17:28
I thought that the government was the one presenting today's budget so it would be expected of the media to ask for more comments from the Finance Minister. Lately we have been hearing from PL speakers that we need to ask the party in government for policy proposals so why are they bothering now that the Minister has been asked for his extensive comments. If the PL doesn't have anything to propose, why are they worrying that they haven't been approached for an opinion since they normally do not have any policies at least not until the run in to the elections?
Daniel Dimech
Nov 16th 2011, 06:40
aqilbu side b il casette dejjem l istess diska!!!! GonziPN ma jaghtix kas ta madwaru ghajr il marmalja ahseb u ara il PL hohoho gahan tipiku
M.S. Anastasi
Nov 14th 2011, 17:22
@: Anthony Mifsud Bonnici Giordani
Nikkwotak: 'Is-soltu gvern Nazzjonalista li jippretendi li permess tal PBS jghaddi b'gaffa minn fuq il-poplu kollu. Il-poplu ma jixraqlux dan it-trattament minn gvern li jghid li huwa difensur tad-demokrazija (fejn jaqbillu)'
Sur Mifsud Bonnici Giordani nixtieq infakkrek li fl-elezzjoni tal-1981 fuq il-PBS/Xandir Malta, meta l-anqas biss kien ghadu thabbar ir-rizultat ta' l-elezzjoni ndaqqet u bdew ghaddejjin captions tal-kanzunetta
'RUN RABBIT RUN'. Forsi din kienet DEMOKRAZIJA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 18:20
but that was 30 years ago, nowadays is much more in fashion to burn billboards
jeneba caruana
Nov 14th 2011, 18:33
X'kien hemm qabel mhux il-punt, xnaghmlu? nigustifikaw is sitwazjoni li wasalna fiha ghax qabel ix xandir ma kellux bilanc??
Jekk Joseph ma qalx haga sura s'issa, zgur li fuq ix xandir ghandu ragun. Jien persuna li ma nxejjer bandiera ta' hadd imma trid tkun ghami biex ma tindunax kif spicca x-xandir.
Michael Grech
Nov 15th 2011, 17:02
B'hekk nikbru f'dan il-pajjiz ....l-izball ta' haddiehor jiggustifika dak tieghi
Carmel Zammit
Nov 14th 2011, 17:19
PBS's decision to send its journalists and staff to 2 debt stricken Euro zone countries couldn't have come at a better time. The two countries chosen by PBS have during the past years accumulated a debt which they cannot manage. Successive PN administrations led us to the same path. Let us not forget that our national debt and structural deficit started and progressed nearly all of it under a PN administration. The PN led this nation to a debt mountain of more than two billion Euro. This debt was made on top of the proceeds received from the sale of national assets through privatisation. It has to be pointed out also that a PL government in 1987 left a favourable balance of the equivalent of one billion Euro which money was also lavishly spent by the PN administration. Remember Dr. Fenech Adami's adage, “MONEY NO PROBLEM”. Under the successive PN administrations we have now reached a point - MONEY HAS INDEED BECOME A BIG PROBLEM.
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 14th 2011, 18:06
Carmel Zammit..in the first place the sovereign debt is Eur5 billion, not just over Eur2 billion. Secondly, the debt is local not external debt. Thirdly it works out to only Eur12 000 per head of population - that's less than one-third of that of Italy or of the US.. Fourthly, if the borrowings from the public are mostly utilised for projects which create jobs both during their execution and after their completion and generate wealth in the country, it is being used wisely. It is only if the loans are mostly used to meet recurrent expenses, that there would be problems.
John Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 17:17
We see more of Joseph Muscat on TVM than he deserves... that is the truth. Labour piles up pressure on PBS so that they show us more of Labour. I would urge PBS to really show us more of Labour... it may serve as an eye opener to those who may think PL has changed, when in fact, the only change I see in labour is for the worse!
Tell me three things Joseph Muscat did right since he has been leader. All his advice has always been proved to be a wrong reading of the situation. no wonder he is refraining from saying what he will do... he does not want everything to backfire.....
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 14th 2011, 16:58
X'qalu il-Labour think-tank kien imsemmi fuq TVM u anki fuq in-Net TV. Nahseb tawh coverage izjed mis-Super One. . Ma nafx x'news value kien fih wara kollox. Li tghid li ghandu jkun Budget bil-ghaqal fih news value.? Qisu l-ewwel darba li il-PN ghamel Budget! Nahseb ipprezenta 'il fuq minn ghoxrin Budget. Mhux kulhadd jaf li l-Budget ghandu jsir bil-ghaqal? Din qishek qed tghid lil xi hadd li ilu jimxi fit-toroq ghal ghexireien ta' snin biex fit-triq jimxi bil-ghaqal ghax inkella ttajru xi karozza. Din tghid biss lil xi tifel zghir mhux lil xi hadd adult.
John Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 16:54
Labour will never change. Just watched Joe Mizzi speaking on TVM. There were all the major unions. people can say what they like, even if you don't agree with what they are saying. But it is evident the PL is only interested in making only its voice heard, and shutting every body else up....
What are the PL's proposals? Tell us how you will reduce the water and electricity bills please instead of saying you have a way of doing it. Will you still squander 50 million to give people the vat on cars back Dr Muscat, even though the EU said there was nothing wrong with that? and who will pay them....?
The PN live and let live. the PL want to have it their way all the time....
Anthony Mifsud Bonnici Giordani
Nov 14th 2011, 16:53
Is-soltu gvern Nazzjonalista li jippretendi li permess tal PBS jghaddi b'gaffa minn fuq il-poplu kollu. Il-poplu ma jixraqlux dan it-trattament minn gvern li jghid li huwa difensur tad-demokrazija (fejn jaqbillu)
T Gauci
Nov 14th 2011, 16:46
Oh my oh my how come they compare 11 million population of Greece with 400 thousand population of Malta. At least Greece has a proper bus network and 1st world roads halluna TVM jekk tridu tqabblu il-Grecja qabblu ma pajjizi kbar mela ma Malta.
Philip Hili
Nov 14th 2011, 17:26
@T Gauci
What a poor mentality!! Mhux ghalhekk, dawn in-nies ma jitghalmu QATT!
Mr Gauci, the comparison is not with the population but with the way Socialist Government in Greece ruled the country. If we had to use your yardstick, there should not be comparisons with other European member states because ALL other European member states have a population bigger than Malta and therefore, the Eurostat, and other comparisons which come out from time to time from the EU are not applicabel for Malta. U hallina!!
Eve Axiaq
Nov 14th 2011, 16:46
Miniex xi fan imma vera rajnih stramb l-ahbarijiet tal- bierah! Li tibghat zewg gurnalisti bil cameramen Spanja u l- Grecja sempliciment biex imaqdru s- sitwazzjoni ta pajjizhom lejliet il- budget taghna vera stramba l- bicca u hela ta flus il- poplu!
Saviour Aquilina
Nov 14th 2011, 16:57
I think that you never saw news on italian stations or other of english lanuage, or you are living on an other earth.
Eve Axiaq
Nov 14th 2011, 17:26
@Savior Aquilina: allura ghalfejn lejliet il- budget?? Taf li l- krizi ta' Spanja u l- Grecja ilha sentejn ghaddejja?.
Philip Hili
Nov 14th 2011, 17:31
@ Saviour Aquilina
No, Mr Aquilina, I thilnk that Ms. Eve Axiaq is living either in space or in a cuckoo land where no news are boradcast.
Giovann Demartino
Nov 14th 2011, 16:40
Ma nistax nifhem jien kif il-lejburisti ma jisthux jitkellmu fuq l-imparzjalita tal-PBS. Possibbli marrilhom daqstant is-snes tal-misthija?
Liza Zarb
Nov 14th 2011, 16:38
Minn qew jakkuza lil Partit Laburista li hu partit tal-laned ta corned beef qed immur wisq lura. Lil partit laburista meta kien isemmi 60's rigward kwistjoni mal -knisja kien jigi akkuzat li qed immur lura fl-istorja. Mela anke minn kiteb hawn fuq laned tal-corned beef qed jaghmel l-istess.
Zbilanc u kif! Kullhadd ghandu ghajnejn f'wiccu biex jara programmi ta pbs u jinduna wahdu.
Nies hbieb trid tara budget ta ghaqal . Kif se nrazznu deficit li issa ga ghana karta safra mill - Eu + kif il-haddiem kif se jerga jiehu dinjita ta middle class.
Pero zgur li hadd ma hu se jiehu 500 euros fil-ghimgha zieda illum.
Philip Hili
Nov 14th 2011, 17:35
@ Liza Zarb
Ohra li tibza' mill-passast moqziez ta' gvern laburista!!! Dr. Emails mar 60 sena lura meta fetah halqu fil-parlament!!! Almenu min jitkellem fuq is-60jiet ikun qieghed imur lura ftit inqas.
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 14th 2011, 17:57
Preciz Lisa Zarb....dak li wiehed kien jistenni mit-think tank tal-Labour partikolarment minn ekonomista bhal Edward Scicluna. Mela jigu jghidu li l-gvern ghandu inaqqas id-deficit u d-dejn nazzjonali; mhux kulhadd jafha din, m'ghandekx bzonn tkun ekonomist. U dawn it-think tank ghandhom ikunu grati lil EU li qed tishaq ma kull membru biex isir dan. alla volja il-Labour kien kontra l-EU.
Andrew Grech
Nov 14th 2011, 16:18
Why don't you all do as I do. I do not watch PBS news, I watch One new & Net news.
God gifted me with enough intelligence to sum up who is right & who is wrong.
Believe me, it's not that difficult to tell who can guide the country in the right direction.
Michael Pule
Nov 14th 2011, 16:18
I wonder how can the pl speak of balanced broadcasting when it was responsible for many, many times of discrimatory broadcasting reports by the Law courts, when it had the power to lead the country. It is evident then that between words & deeds, there is a hell of a big difference!
pat muscat
Nov 14th 2011, 16:46
Perhaps you don't remember the time when Pl's newspapers were not allowed in the hospitals in the 60's? You don't remember the times when Mintoff was not allowed to broadcast on Radio, and when Labour's meetings were harassed with the blessing of the police? Selective amnesia is not credible.
Alfred Bugeja
Nov 14th 2011, 16:17
Last time I watched, BBC, Rai, DW and TF1 and Sky all had reporters in Greece covering the change in Government. Why should PBS be an exception? If anything, this type of coverage should become more frequent.
Eve Axiaq
Nov 14th 2011, 16:53
So why yesterday lejliet il- budget??
helen debono
Nov 14th 2011, 17:44
Il-bierah il-gurnalista li kienet qed tirraporta mil Grecja kelli zewg intrevisti ma Maltin pero qallet li ha thallihom ghal lum,GHALIEX ma gabithomx mal intervisti li ghamlet il-bierah?
Paul Micallef
Nov 14th 2011, 15:42
JUST BOYCOT.
A Dimech
Nov 14th 2011, 15:39
Intelligent people deserve an impartial and balanced PBS - not least because they pay the TV licence for it!!
Shame on PBS. we are living in the 2011 and they still want to manipulate.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Nov 14th 2011, 15:34
As far as I know, a news media outlet should only transmit what is of news-value.
If the PL and Joseph Muscat are not offering anything of news-value, then how can they expect that a reputable media house transmit NO news-value?
Logical, no?
Only News-Value items should be broadcasted and NOT mere PROPAGANDA!
JC.
pat muscat
Nov 14th 2011, 16:49
Din bhal tal-gongol u il-qattus! Min se jkun dak li jikkonkludi ahbar tal-PL hijiex news value jew le, nazzjonalist ipregudikat?
David Cutajar
Nov 14th 2011, 15:31
This is a true confirmation of PL's envy. Should TVM remain a Government notice board as back to the 80's? Haven't you seen, RAI, BBC, Euronews, Sky, all public and professional TV stations reported whats happening in Greece, Spain, Italy, etc...So why kill TVM?
pat muscat
Nov 14th 2011, 15:24
Half of the Maltese electorate find PBS lack of political balance offensive. Is it too much to ask for a balanced view of different political opinions Why is PBS afraid of showing the PL's side of local and international events? Is it because the PN is in the mire?
R. Gauci
Nov 14th 2011, 15:19
U din xi strategija hi mill-PBS li fil-jiem tal-budget baghtu crew ta` gurnalisti go Spanja u ohra gewwa l-Grecja? Dan biex juruna u jinfluwenzawna b'xi problemi hemm u nikkunslaw? U din l-istrategija psikologika ovvja li ma tistghax tkun gejja mill-PBS izda internament mill-PN pero nhallsu l-poplu kollha ta` l-ispejjez la fuq ix-xandi nazzjonali. Din se tkun it-tattika tal-PN ghal li gej? Araw haddiehor kif spicca, ahna hziena imma mhux daqshom?? Iriduna nikkunslaw ghax anqas hziena min haddiehor??
Fuq kollox jekk gejja krizi fuqna ghax ma jimitawx lil Grecja, Italja u Spanja u jirrizenjaw jew isejjhu elezzjoni bikrija? Nharsu lejhom biss iriduna?
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 14th 2011, 14:58
Let me give PL something else to complain about in the run up to the budget speech
http://www.corriere.it/notizie-ultima-ora/Economia/Petrolio-Wti-Asia-Brent-mirino-115-dollari/14-11-2011/1-A_000317077.shtml
j brincat
Nov 14th 2011, 14:57
@Mark Galea
"Jekk Joseph Muscat jispjega l-policies tieghu, naqbel li hemm l-obbligu li jgibu l-proposti tieghu ... pero jekk kollox qisu s-sigriet ta' Fatima, x'jistenna ..."
Meanwhile, we are waiting for Dr Gonzi to honour his 101 pre-electoral promises, especially the reduction in income tax which won him the election (mere 1500 votes).
AND time is running out for him!
(jb)
Nathalie Frendo
Nov 14th 2011, 14:56
The way the public was brain washed in a not so subtle way on yesterday's main news bulletin on PBS is to say the least pathetic. Just how is it that my taxes are being used to send a crew of cameramen and at least two journalists abroad just to report what we have all been hearing for far too long? We all know by now that Spain and Greece are in financial trouble. The emphasis on the unemployment levels in these countries and the hardships the people are having to face is not news anymore. PBS made up these so called news items as if to tell us look how lucky we are our minister has not told us to do this yet. Then today there is a planned marathon of the budget transmission. It is already far too nauseating to listen to any minister reading out pages on end of figures even he himself at times misreads, but this year the transmission has more to offer a whole afternoon of yet more emphasis on the hardships of others and presumably speculations about our own finances. If our minister will not come up with hard measures then he is not being honest. No matter how relatively happy this might make some we all know deep down that even we are in trouble. So how a bout a shorter programme dedicated to a more realistic opinion?
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 14th 2011, 14:54
"unsolicited live reports from Spain and Greece"
This embodies the utter dishonesty of the PL!
charles tabone
Nov 14th 2011, 14:54
It is evident that PN will be up to dirty tricks and punches below the belt in its run up to the General Elections. Aren't we all used to these dirty moves?
Kenneth Galea
Nov 14th 2011, 14:47
OH please PL shut up and get a grip. So the PL are now admitting that Spain and Greece are struggling with their economies in comparison to the tiny island of Malta. Of course the PL do not want any coverage in respect of Spain and Greece because they want to give the impression to the electorate that any economic woes which effect Malta are the Government's faults. This is a PL propoganda machine to distract the electorate from what is really happening outside Malta. Thank God that this Government in Malta managed to keep our economy healthy. It is now becoming a fact that the intentions of the PL are to put a spanner in the works and obstacles in the wheels. Just stop your non-sense PL once and for all and go in hibernation. U biex tiskongra tried tkun pur.
j brincat
Nov 14th 2011, 14:41
@r spiteri
Quote:"Dear Kurt Farrugia (MLP spokesman),
I suggest that you come up with policies and speak about them. Rather than hitting out at others for explaining their policies, positions and plans. What is the problem that PBS informs what's going on in Spain and Greece?! Should PBS cover Italy too? Or maybe Iceland?"
Since our finances were supposed to be 'fi-sod', so much so that Dr Gonzi promised to lower income tax in the FIRST budget following the 2008 elections, you should draw a parallel with Germany, France and UK and NOT with a weak country Greece which never merited to join the EU in the first place. We all remember how weak the Greek drachma always was!
My only problem with the PBS is that it is financed out of my and others' tax money. So it should be neutral at all times!
(jb)
r spiteri
Nov 14th 2011, 15:57
Sur Brincat....Malta has a lower unemployment rate than the countries you mentioned......Malta is not even half the size of Cyprus....Should we compare Malta to Cyprus then?
Or maybe given that you re so keen about having Labour in power, should we compare Malta to North Korea?
I think Anglu Farrugia can enlighten you on what policies are all about.
Julian Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 14:39
.... if the balance is based on content we'd have to pass the station to the PL .... kif dejjem xorta u qatt ma jinbidel il-PL. issa ikkritkaw wara li tisimghew il-baget!
John Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 14:38
I find Labour really hilarious. It's strategy is always to shut people up, either from government or from the opposition. Why is labour upset that TVM sent reporters to Greece and Spain. Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, was a role model for Joseph Muscat until a few weeks ago.... But what is wrong to hear what is going on in these countries from a Maltese reporter's perspective? I found it so interesting and I hoper PBS will send more journalists elsewhere, to Italy, Portugal, Cyprus (another of Joseph's models to emulate), Germany, why not? and other countries too, even those better than us... It would be good for Maltese to hear those countries who are better off like Sweden... and hear the amount of taxes they pay: 48.3% in the case of Sweden!
Mark Spiteri
Nov 14th 2011, 15:40
Do you know the kind of welfare state Sweden has?
Vicki Azzopardi
Nov 14th 2011, 15:40
Of course PL is annoyed that the Maltese people are given the chance, once again, to see with their own eyes, what is happening in the countries close to us. This way we will appreciate how lucky we Maltese are that our country is not in the same state as them. Thanks to PBS for these live reports. I think One should follow suit.....
j brincat
Nov 14th 2011, 14:34
It's no small wonder that Dr Debono said that PBS is worse today than it was in 1980's!
The PL should be watchful because we know that the PN is capable of doing all sort of tricks to win at ALL costs!
(jb)
Noel Barry
Nov 14th 2011, 14:53
Mr Brincat, you were either not born in the 80's, was living abroad and did not know what was happening in this country, or you were happy with what we had on state broadcasting. If Dr Debono was right in everything, he was very wrong when mentioning state broadcasting. I lived through those dark years.
Noel Barry
Nov 14th 2011, 14:55
And by the way, what tricks are you talking about. Like, for example, when the electricity was cut at the Polytechnic, in Msida, where the counting of votes was being held. We do not need tricks to win elections. We have won many of them already.
Ms.D. Galea
Nov 14th 2011, 15:11
Was it not PL's Dr Joseph Muscat who said that the end justifies the means?
Mr Charles Falzon
Nov 14th 2011, 14:31
Dishonesty at it s best from PBS......kellek ragun Franco Debono tghid li l istazzjon nazzjonali huwa aghar mis snin 80. Taf x messom qalu ir reporters tal PBS li marru Spanja u l Grecja....li l ministri u l PM ta dawn iz zewg pajjizi ma hadux EWRO500 fil gimgha!!!!!
Philip Hili
Nov 14th 2011, 16:17
@ Mr Charles Falzon
Poor boy!!!
Jekk ma ghixtx fi zmien id-dlamijiet dak tad-dittarorjat laburista, ma tistax tqabbel ix-xandir issa ma dak ta' dak in-nhar.
Richard Caruana
Nov 14th 2011, 14:23
What coverage does the PL expect if it never explains what it intends to do, or come out with clear policies?
Mark Spiteri
Nov 14th 2011, 15:36
What does your comment have to do with the article! It's incredible what mentality some people have!
Let's say I agree with you, DOES this entails having the shameful news PBS broadcasted yesterday?
Two wrongs don't make a right!
Amazing!
Neil Dent
Nov 14th 2011, 14:19
This latest petty protest is baseless and uncalled for. Of course the MLP conference was given secondary coverage and rightly so. It is goverment that prepares and presents the budget, via the Finance Minister of the day, not the opposition or their spokesman. Once presented, the opposition will have ample time to comment and criticise, and this will be widely reported.
The Minister's interview on last night's news was not up for political debate or argument, in contrast to the run-of-the-mill radio interviews or speeches made every Sunday morning by both the Prime Minister and Dr. Muscat, wherein one invariably spurs a response from the other. Mr. Farrugia's placing the two within the same context is pointless and inaccurate.
Saviour Aquilina
Nov 14th 2011, 14:15
Dr.Muscat, when the PL one day ( hope very long ) present the bugit PBS will give you long coverge, but be sure that there will be no reduce 1mill on Corn Beef, Oil, etc.. like in the early 80s.
Jeffrey Mallia
Nov 14th 2011, 15:14
Dak kien zmien veru Sur Aquiina...........jorhos it tonn taz zejt 1 mill............u tiehu plot art 21 ft x 120 ft B'XEJN.........il lum tiswa 300 elf Euro.............
G. Ellul
Nov 14th 2011, 14:09
In anticipation of today's budget and at the expense of the taxpayer, PBS yesterday sent its reporters to Greece and Spain to show us how worse off are the people there.
Tinten naqra ghalija dil-manuvra.....!!!!
Paul Vella
Nov 14th 2011, 14:04
The level of partiality in TVM news bullettins and PBS in general have reached unacceptable proportions to all Maltese citizens who fork out taxes every year in the form of TV licences. The coverage preceeding the budget is insulting to say the least, towards at least have of the population who didn't vote for this government in the last election. The voice of the Labour Party is continuously being buried, distorted and sandwiched. National broadcasting is now really a grave threat to democracy as stated in Parliament by Government MP, Dr. Franco Debono.
Kristina Cassar
Nov 14th 2011, 13:59
I'm all in for fair coverage but the PL have to give its solutions and present its policies ... otherwise what type of coverage are they expecting from the media??
Rachel Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 13:53
Unbelievable! So, according to labour reporting what is happening in Spain and Greece is government propoganda! Speechless...
Mark Galea
Nov 14th 2011, 13:40
Jekk Joseph Muscat jispjega l-policies tieghu, naqbel li hemm l-obbligu li jgibu l-proposti tieghu ... pero jekk kollox qisu s-sigriet ta' Fatima, x'jistenna ...
Tonio Micallef
Nov 14th 2011, 13:37
Inkredibbli f'liema livell baxx ta' propaganda qed jaqa' l-PBS. Ghan wiehed biss ghandu, gatekeeper tal-Gvern u li jidfen il-messagg tal-Partit Laburista. Sewwa qal FRANCO DEBONO, ix-Xandir Nazzjonali jinsab aghar milli kien fit-tmeninijiet. Din theddida serja ghad-demokrazija li jehtieg tigi rimedjata, MALAJR!.
Lawrence Fenech
Nov 14th 2011, 13:34
Ma dawn in-nies trid thabbat wiccek Joseph, pero int diplomatiku u taf thabbatha mal-mewc.
Philip Hili
Nov 14th 2011, 14:01
@ Lawrence Fenech,
Yes!! Lawrence, taf xi tghid!!! keep it up... Hu hsieb li jkollu internet minhabba xi emai ghax id-diplomazija hekk titlob!!!
Mr Lawrence Calleja
Nov 14th 2011, 14:06
Diplomatiku??? Inti taf x'qed tghid? Id-diplomazzija mhux li tipprova tilghab ghall gallarija u lanqas biex tirbah il-voti bhal Joe Muscat imma din taghmila meta tiddibatti ma personaggi kbar internazzjonali ghall gid ta' Malta. Hekk kid ghamel u qed jaghmel Gonzi. Ma kienx hawn pajjiz li ma fahharx lill gvern ta' Malta ghall hidma tieghu b'mod diplomatiku f'dawn l-ahhar grajjiet internazzjonali li sehhew madwarna. Ejja nifhmu sew il-kelma qabel ma nahlu l-bzieq fil-vojt.
r spiteri
Nov 14th 2011, 13:27
Dear Kurt Farrugia (MLP spokesman),
I suggest that you come up with policies and speak about them. Rather than hitting out at others for explaining their policies, positions and plans. What is the problem that PBS informs what's going on in Spain and Greece?! Should PBS cover Italy too? Or maybe Iceland? Or svizzera fil-mediterran?!
Come up with concrete proposals and stop being superficiail if you want people to start believing that Labour can ever change.
Philip Hili
Nov 14th 2011, 14:10
@ r spitreri
Dear Kurt Farrugia (MLP spokesman),
Why are you so worried? It is only Dr. Emails fault because he does not want to enlighten us about his proposal if and when he will be leading the country!
Heqq mhux hu ma jridx jitkellem!!! Kelmu wahda lil Dr. Emails halli jkun jista' jinstema fuq il-PBS. Sa kemm il-PBS ma jkollux xi haga ta' "news value" minn ghand Dr. Emails, kif jista' jgib dak li ma jirdx jghid!!! Issa mbilli jghid lil gurnalista "Il-kontiejet ser jitrahhsu;pero' ma nistax nghid kemm u meta! Mela jien nista' nintrabat ghall futur. Ha nara kemm ikun il-prezz taz-zejt u mbaghad nghidilkom!!!!...... U hallina Kurt!!! Ir-ross minn halqna niekluh. Issa jekk inti trid "tixtri l-hut fil-bahar" dik affarik.
Brian Gatt
Nov 14th 2011, 14:33
Dear Mr Spiteri,
its not the Opposition's job to come up wuth policies throughout a legislation. Its the elected Goverment's job to prepare an action plan and implement it. The opposition's policies will be unveiled in its electoral program together with the goverment's policies in their respective electoral program, then the people will decide who to give their trust for the next 5 years.
If you are so earnest to see the opposition's plan / policies you should hope that an early election is called so that all of us can evaluate both electoral programs and decide. I do not blame the opposition for not showing its hand, I would'nt not unless I am guaranteed that I can take credit for the policies I suggest. After all the aim of each political party is to earn the govt seat in the parliament.
J.C. Borg
Nov 14th 2011, 14:35
"come up with policies" - Trid tara jafux? Dawk imaqdru biss jafu.
U, qed jistennew li nivvotawlhom tat-tmaqdir biss. Grow up PL!!
Anthony Mangion
Nov 14th 2011, 13:25
Same thing happened yesterday evening.First we are show 2 reportes 1 in Spain and 1 in Greece.Just showing how bad things are in those countries.And then they tell us that the government is to have the Budget sitting tonight and Mr Tonio Fenech telling us it will not be an easy budget.Add 1 and 1 and you get 2.If things are bad in those countries we shouldn t expect MUCH.What i cant understand is how can PBS afford to send 2 of its people for a week 1 in Greece and another in Spain.Mhux kollox minn fuq il poplu?????
Ms.D. Galea
Nov 14th 2011, 13:46
In the Socialist Malta's Dardir Malta days, pre-budget comparisons were made with the standard of living in Caucescu's Romania , Hoxha's Albania and Tito's Jugoslavia.
How times have changed - thank God .
Kristina Cassar
Nov 14th 2011, 13:54
tickets are like 50 euros nowadays with cheap airlines ..
A. Mizzi
Nov 14th 2011, 13:24
YES , the people have the right to the whole pricture of the situation , not just the make-up, especially those that still pay a T.V. Licence in addition to the Local Provider tariff to get a National Station, not a wing of the Nationalist Party Media Machine!
Ms.D. Galea
Nov 14th 2011, 15:09
If you own a pc with an internet access you can do away with paying a TV licence and your local service provider !
David Farrugia
Nov 14th 2011, 13:21
Don't worry PL..this is a matter of a few more months now. After the elections I expect a 'piazza pulita". Mbad kulhadd jiehu dak li haqqu.
Mr Michael Debono
Nov 14th 2011, 13:18
One cannot expect better from a T.V. station when its news are supervised by such a P.N. salaried person-salaried because appointed by the P.N. to the post and paid through our taxes.
Ms.D. Galea
Nov 14th 2011, 13:09
What sort of media coverage does Dr Muscat expect , so long as he persists in keeping his policies under wraps, presumably up till election day?