It is unacceptable that the Broadcasting Authority kept acting as a mouthpiece for the Nationalist and Labour Parties and AD in Parliament would ensure that this would no longer be the case, chairman Michael Briguglio said this morning.
Addressing a news conference near the BA’s offices, AD the current situation regarding political broadcasting showed that democratisation was required in this area.
“Access to Broadcasting should not depend on representation in Parliament but should be widened to all political parties and civil society organisations who respect the constitution and do not incite hatred against minorities or ethnic groups, cultures and identities.
“Members of the Broadcasting Authority should be appointed by a Parliamentary Committee after a public call for applications.”
Dr Briguglio said that PBS should be managed by a board of directors autonomous from the Government, and appointed by a parliamentary committee, following a public hearing.
“This should include civil society representatives as well as experts in communication and marketing.”
Deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo said that during this electoral campaign AD’s access to airtime on public broadcasting was very limited.
Both PN and PL owned television and radio stations which they put through full use on a 24 hour basis.
Besides access to their own stations PN and PL were also practically in control of the PBS airwaves which they shared between them with the tacit approval of the BA.
“It does not make sense for PBS to keep ignoring AD’s views when discussing the basic issues brought up in this electoral campaign. During the past week, for example, during its morning discussion programme TVAM, PBS invited PN and PL representatives to discuss the environment and land use policy issues.
“AD which not only has valid alternative views on the matter but has also been vociferous on the subject throughout the years was completely ignored.”
Mr Cacopardo said AD had repeatedly taken its requests for fair treatment to the Broadcasting Authority
In reply, the BA repeatedly endorsed the myopic perspective of PBS and refused to consider allocating AD more airtime on public broadcasting.
“Made up of PN and PL nominees, the Broadcasting Authority is repeatedly endorsing PBS’s unfair behaviour and consequently is repeatedly defining itself as another defender of the two party system which throughout the past fifty years has ruined this country.
“The Broadcasting Authority has to shoulder its responsibilities as an accomplice with PBS in its attempts to suffocate AD’s voice on public broadcasting,” he said.