Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil today called for the national broadcasting station (PBS) to be independent and neutral.

In a meeting with members from the Journalism Institute, Dr Busuttil said that the Nationalist Party has always supported freedom of expression, adding that the journalism field is a challenging and complex one. “Placing aside political media, journalists should act independently. Unfortunately, this is not the case with PBS – its editorial contact is very much biased,” he said.

Karl Wright, the institute’s chairperson said that journalists should be respected and allowed to put forward questions and questioned why journalists are often invited to cover the first part of a meeting or conference and then asked to leave.

Dr Busuttil replied that all public meetings should be open to press, however, in some situations, journalists are asked to leave meetings to allow participants to speak freely.

Ironically, journalists present during the meeting were not allowed to ask questions and were told Dr Busuttil needs to rush off to another appointment.

Mr Wright said that the institute are meeting up with all media houses and political parties, adding that the institute asked to meet the parties before the local council elections; however they only got an invitation after elections were over.