The Journalists’ Committee called on the government to grant fair and equal access to the media on issues of national importance, after receiving complaints from newsrooms that were refused access on board AFM patrol boats patrolling near the Spanish trawler with immigrants on board, in contrast with other newsrooms.

The Committee said that it was informed that a request by One News to send a cameraman to film on site was turned down by the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday, although a similar request from PBS was accepted.

It said that this is not the first time that government has handpicked media organisations to impart information that is of public interest.

“The government cannot be selective in granting access to the media on issues of such national importance,” said committee chairman Karl Schembri in a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister, requesting an explanation behind its decision.

“The presence of journalists and diverse media in these situations can only mean more transparency and clear information to the public about a story of international importance, so essential for an informed national debate about immigration.”