The Nationalist Party and PBS today went before the Broadcasting Authority Board, arguing their case after the PN submitted a complaint regarding the lack of coverage by PBS of the Joe Debono Grech-Marlene Farrugia argument in Parliament.

The PN said that PBS failed to report the incident in a timely manner, while PBS Head of News Reno Bugeja said that the station was waiting for the Speaker’s decision as the back and forth arguments between the two MPs were not newsworthy.

It was established that the incident was briefly reported by PBS two days later on the following Sunday, when Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil had referred to it, and it was reported in that context.

A witness was presented by PBS, the journalist who was covering Parliament that evening. He was not in Parliament at the time but rather covered the sitting over live-stream, which he said was normal and that newsrooms in general cover Parliament over the live-stream or radio unless there is a special occasion. The witness said he had heard shouting, and MP Luciano Busuttil, who was acting speaker, trying to calm things down. He also heard PN Whip David Agius tell the speaker about the incident. Mr Agius had in fact used the threatening words Mr Debono Grech had used when explaining the incident to Mr Speaker.

PBS argued that the editor decided to attribute the news value to the investigation by the Speaker and his decision, which was aired. The PN's argument was that the incident itself was not reported on the day it happened, when other media had already written about it. This, the PN argued, was not balanced reporting.

Reno Bugeja argued that the Speaker’s investigation and decision was newsworthy, however he felt that the back and forth arguments in Parliament were not. The Opposition said that both were linked and cannot be separated.

Mr Bugeja also said that PBS does not cover absolutely everything said in Parliament. He also said that the arguments made by PL MP Joe Debono Grech were off mike, and that nobody who was reporting that day actually heard the remark directly, thus it was an “alleged” threat. The PN argued that Opposition whip had specifically referred to the words used by Mr Debono Grech when he (Mr Agius) made a complaint on air to the Speaker.

The Broadcasting Authority is deliberating and a ruling is expected later this week.