The popular Rai Uno programme Domenica In last Sunday discussed whether it was correct that television presenters used the media to promote their own personal agendas. The debate arose after Paolo Bonolis made controversial statements about a Mediaset producer – comments which led to Bonolis himself being attacked by other Mediaset presenters and journalists.

The Bonolis-Mediaset storm is of little relevance in Malta. However the debate that followed on the use of the media to pursue one’s goals is a topic that has been touched upon several times in Malta.

In Malta we have three major television stations, two are owned by the two major political parties, while the third is run by the State.

It is understandable, although it is certainly not the right way of doing things, that Super One TV, owned by the Malta Labour Party, and Net TV, run by the Nationalist Party, support the organisation that administers them.

It is sometimes incredible how we seem to be living in two different countries. A story as presented on Super One is totally different from the version given by Net TV. Topics up for discussion on Super One programmes are ignored by Net TV, and the other way round.

Many will argue that things balance each other out in the end. But on the other hand, it cannot be that on one station everything you hear is positive, while on the other, everything is bleak. There is a lot of grey in between the black and the white and this is very often ignored.

There has been some improvement and recently, we have seen more Nationalist speakers appearing on Super One TV and Labour representatives going on Net TV – but this is still too little. To have a balanced debate, programmes should include more and more people from “the other side” (or sides) – otherwise viewers will only get one part of the story and, let’s face it, the discussion would be rather monotonous.

For example, it would be a good idea if Net TV carried an interview with Labour Leader Alfred Sant and Super One did the same thing with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. These interviews should not be another chance for journalists to bring out the “worst” in the leader of the “other” party, as is often the case when they attend press conferences, but a chance for a healthy debate and intelligent questions being asked.

The Public Broadcasting Services, as the national station, has a different role to play. It must provide a balanced overview of what is happening in the country, and give all sides of the story. PBS’s news bulletins are often described as a government noticeboard, and the opposition has claimed that it should be given more “time” and coverage.

Its discussion programmes tend to be more impartial in the sense that a subject is tackled from different perspectives. In a way, PBS discussion programmes are “obliged” to do this, especially if the topic discussed is political in nature. Again, even here, producers and presenters have often been the target of the opposition’s criticism. The latter have claimed that certain subjects of national interest have been avoided.

Going back to the Domenica In programme, one point raised was that the direction taken in a discussion on a given topic was often swayed by the presenters and producers, something that happens in Malta as well.

As with all other forms of media, television stations are powerful and they have a great responsibility because what is shown and said on the “box”, influences the people who are watching. Their task is not only to inform viewers about what is going on, but to help them form an opinion. For someone to form an opinion, he or she must get all sides of the story.