In October 2006, the Broadcasting Authority had launched a consultation document proposing that a number of existing guidelines on the production of news bulletins and current affairs programmes in the local broadcasting media should be established as mandatory standards and practice in terms of Article 20(3) of the Broadcasting Act.

These requirements, inter alia, include provisions on rights of respect and privacy, the use of reconstruction material, filming and recording in institutions, the use of hidden microphones and cameras, respect for children’s rights and the treatment of interviews, including the editing of interviews and the recording of telephone interviews.

The period of consultation closed on 1 December and the Broadcasting Authority has now reviewed the submissions received and, where possible and appropriate, has adjusted the relative provisions accordingly.

These requirements will now be brought into force by the authority with effect from Monday 12 February and will apply to all the local broadcasting stations, irrespective of their ownership, as well as to programmes outsourced to independent production houses.

In the meantime, the authority is taking the necessary steps for the issue of a legal notice which would amend the Fifth Schedule of the Broadcasting Act so that the administrative penalties to be imposed by the authority in the case of breaches of these requirements will vary according to the gravity of the offence but will not exceed the maximum penalty of Lm1,000. At present, the applicable administrative maximum penalty is Lm1,000 and the minimum Lm750.

It has to be pointed out that legal provisions on due accuracy and impartiality in news bulletins and current affairs programmes already exist in the Constitution of Malta and under Article 13(2) of the Broadcasting Act. The Broadcasting Authority will continue to uphold these provisions.

The authority also wishes to point out that, while it will be monitoring the broadcasting stations’ adherence to these provisions, there are various provisions (e.g. inappropriate editing of interviews, unauthorised recording/broadcasting of telephone interviews) where breaches of these provisions can only be detected and ascertained by the authority following a complaint by the aggrieved party.