Every morning I follow with great attention the analysis made by different radio and TV stations on the newspapers of the day. I must say that most of them give a quick look at the stories on front pages and, usually, pass a comment or two on important main items.
But it is quite different with One TV and One Radio. On both stations we have Dr Silvio Debono giving a very biased look at what is published. Obviously he never argues with what is published on L-Orizzont and Maltastar.com, on which he always has a favourable remark to make. Being sensational and pompous as the two publications, Dr Debono pontificates on the news items carried. His political slant is so very obvious as he agrees totally with anything Labour, but finds fault with anything done by the Nationalists.
When he comes to analyse The Malta Independent, the presenter is always harping that this newspaper is an English version of In-Nazzjon. This repeated statement verges on the ridiculous because every person in his senses knows that while the Nationalist paper naturally propagates everything that is pro-PN, your newspaper is so very balanced that both parties are given equal importance whenever there is anything newsworthy. For example, Dr Debono knows that every Monday you give equal space and importance to the speeches delivered by the two political leaders the previous day. Does he find the same thing in his favourite pro-Labour newspapers?
Furthermore, Dr Debono conveniently seems to forget that your newspaper is inundated with almost daily contributions by prominent Labour exponents making it look more like the Labour weekly Kulhadd.
Dr Debono ignores your editorial when you give due praise to any good move by the government but then he showers you with praise when you do the same with Labour initiatives. Who said that this is not a blatant example of biased analysis?
I am sure that this is happening because of the recent bad episode in local journalism when a group of pro-Labour diehards were caught orchestrating a number of letters sent to English dailies to enhance Labour’s chances for the forthcoming general elections. Even this horrible manoeuvre was twisted to the full to give the impression that there was nothing wrong in what his fellow Labourites did.
Dr Debono is delivering a political speech every morning. He is trying to imitate his colleague Charlon Gouder as the party’s flag-bearer. But he should be aware that he is losing credibility as much as Mr Gouder. You cannot indoctrinate your listeners quite easily. They are becoming smarter in their evaluation of what is happening around them.
George Gatt
Sliema