The national broadcaster TVM “seriously failed” in its duties when it decided not to immediately report an exchange in Parliament between Labour MP Joe Debono Grech and independent MP Marlene Farrugia, according to the Broadcasting Authority.

The BA’s decision was based on a complaint by the Nationalist Party. The authority ruled that the station’s duty was to report facts as quickly as possible after learning about them.

In the exchange, the Labour MP verbally threatened Dr Farrugia saying he would beat her up (“niġi u nifqgħak”).

TVM failed to include the exchange in its news report, saying it had decided it was not newsworthy.

The station’s argument, that it had been waiting for the Speaker’s ruling to report the incident, was a serious shortcoming especially since at the end of the 8pm news bulletin on November 20, when the incident happened, the newscaster said that a detailed report would be provided in the next bulletin and on the national broadcaster’s online portal.

The station did mention the incident during an interview with Opposition leader Simon Busuttil on November 22, and it reported the Speaker’s ruling and the press conference by Dr Busuttil on November 23, yet TVM still failed in its duty to give the public the news with the immediacy due.

The authority also said it was also concerned TVM did not have a journalist present in Parliament during sittings although the station’s reports regularly gave the impression that it was a live report.