BEWARE: A strong opinion
Thank God I don't work for or write anything for TVM. I'd have to be telling the editor all about my views before all the programmes I'd take part in. I just looked at the PBS guidelines and wow they are one strange set of silly cookies. If you ever contemplated working for the national station, take heed and steer away. Or else if you are desperate enough and want to work there still or if you'd like to present a current affairs programme, do so, but only after transplanting your brain and placing an empty box instead of it.
Let's be honest here: we all have a strong opinion don't we? I do and I know most people do—I have strong opinions about nearly anything that hits me and even things that don't. I berate the atheists when I never did much research about their god; I berate the tattooed guys—and gals—but have never even gone close to a inker's shop.
I have a strong opinion about everything, apart from maybe neutered cats and human hairstyles –and this only because I have no hair and have no feline companion. So if I were presenting a news or current affairs programme I would then have to tell the news editor about my strong opinions. Said editor would guide me and advise whether I can carry on with the programme or whether I have to admit to the world that I have a strong opinion.
Our country is made up of 400,000 people. Except for the newly born, we all have a strong opinion about everything and so are we going to have the ludicrous scenario where all presenters are going to be telling us all about their pet peeves and harrowing hates? Journalists, if they are worth their little salt, can have an opinion—strong and strongly held—but they don't all have to use, or flog it, each and every time they do any journalistic work.
If you are not very opinionated the last thing you will be attracted to do is a discussion programme on TV. If you are not opinionated you are definitely not Maltese. In fact except for a few Swedes and Finns, all the universe is strongly opinionated about everything under the sun. .
Maybe getting rid of the political presenters isn't such a bad idea but going a step too far is, as usual, damnably funny and will be damnably disregarded by most presenters.
And as usual we will have a lovely set of guidelines which will rot in its own inanity.
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Joseph A Borg
Apr 9th 2012, 09:45
We're getting a nanny state bereft of ideas and novelty? Seracino Inglott got all riled up about the education curriculum for similar reasons. This implies weak leadership that is only interested in protecting its egos, instead of managing a public service to, you know serve the public…
Instead of pre-empting possible negative scenarios, can we have policy makers that draft courses of action to be taken once something bad happens?! Maybe our emergency services should start lecturing the other branches or our esteemed bureaucracy on how to manage uncertainties…
Are we're going to declare all cliffs as being no go areas unless there are appropriate safety barriers next? Meanwhile we leave a ferry ramp open at 5am in the morning next to a busy one…
Francis Saliba M.D.
Apr 9th 2012, 07:52
In a civilised society there is nothing wrong in holding opinions strongly, expressing them, or agreeing with them or contesting them as long as everything is done intelligently and courteously. The very sad thing is that all too frequently strongly held opinions/convictions are expressed immoderately and with such invective or hatred that should not be allowed so as not to lower the tone of responsible newspapers - not even for their unintended "entertainment" value.
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