A new set of guidelines for all PBS employees to be adopted from 1 June, aims to strongly limit any involvement they might have in political activities, public controversies or any other matters that might be deemed as interfering with the state broadcaster’s impartiality.
The guidelines, which are just seven pages long, were unveiled yesterday at a news conference in the main PBS television studio in Guardamangia. The document tackles also views expressed in the social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
The chairman of the PBS editorial board, Prof. Joe Pirotta remarked that the national broadcaster had long ago formulated a set of guidelines to ensure impartiality, and this was just an exercise in updating them and making them more relevant.
He said such guidelines deal with delicate issues concerning fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and association, and thus legal advice was sought throughout the lengthy updating process.
Probably the most controversial point of this document is the seventh, called ‘Protecting impartiality through external activities’. In particular it deals with “the activities of its employees, particularly producers, journalists and presenters of programmes broadcast”.
It further states that “it is consequently important that those associated with news and current affairs do not engage in off-air activities that can lead to any doubt about their objectivity on-air to what is transmitted.”
The document then lists a variety of circumstances which it claims “can tarnish one’s reputation for impartiality and consequently damage the reputation of PBS for impartiality”.
These include “expressing public support for any political party or expressing views or lobbying in favour of or against a policy which is a matter of current party political debate or a matter of public or industrial controversy”, stating one’s voting intentions and endorsing political candidates.
According to these guidelines even by publicly demanding a change in high profile public policy, a PBS employee is prone to bring a conflict of interest. Furthermore, news and current affairs presenters, producers and journalists “ought not to regularly write or participate in public debate issues of current affairs or politics, economics, business or finance and matters of public policy, political or industrial controversy”.
Other matters listed under external activities include articles, letters to the editor, online remarks and blogging and participation in public debates.
The document states that “the degree to which external activities are prohibited or limited depends on the nature of both the individual’s role with PBS as well as the nature of the external activity”.
In spite of these measures, the guidelines do not exclude the possibility for PBS employees to participate in political activity if “it is consistent with the nature of their work for PBS and the public service obligations of PBS”.
In such cases, the PBS employees are to seek consent from the registered editor, in this case Natalino Fenech, prior to their involvement in political or other activities deemed to be of a controversial nature. However, PBS reserves the right to change or adapt the person’s role in its programmes, even if such activities have been going on prior to these guidelines and with the management’s consent. This includes the exclusion of one’s role in such a programme.
Prof. Pirotta remarked that PBS is going beyond its legal obligations as dictated by the Broadcasting Authority as it is regulating itself on its own initiative. On the aspect of impartiality the guidelines state that this does not necessarily mean providing equal time to each view represented, but it is important the programme as a whole reflects a balanced representation of divergent views.
While presenters are not expected to be neutral on every controversial issue, the document stipulates that care should be taken not to favour one opinion at the expense of another, thus giving an unfair advantage. It also states that if presenters feel they have a strong opinion about a topic to be discussed they should consult with the editor for guidance.
If an employee is found guilty of breaching these guidelines, the sanctions vary according to the disciplinary measures listed in the collective agreement.
Potential grey areas in these guidelines are likely to crop up during electoral campaigns, with questions being asked about the manner in which PBS will deal if any of its employees attend political rallies. Prof. Pirotta said when asked that one has to distinguish between mere participation in political activities, and an active participation. “It is one thing being part of a crowd, and another being on stage,” he explained.