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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