The Institute of Journalists today said political parties, when they feel compelled to protest about reports on Public Broadcasting Services, should resort to established practices before publicly accusing the credibility of journalists.

The IGM issued a statement after it received a complaint from its member Reno Bugeja who complained about a “systematic campaign” against him by the Nationalist Party.

The IGM said that public broadcasting is not only subject to the press law but also the broadcasting law, which includes monitoring by the Broadcasting Authority.

Before accusations are made public, any aggrieved party should seek remedies in other fora, the IGM said.

The IGM had been softer in defence of The Malta Independent a few weeks ago after John Dalli filed a criminal complaint against us and urged the police to open an investigation involving the company directors and journalists, which is certainly a stronger attempt to undermine freedom of the press than a political party’s complaints about what it deems is unfair reporting.

That time, the institute had said it is a journalist’s role to investigate and expose all the resulting information, exposing all facets to the story and giving space to all the parties involved to say their piece, and to continue reporting issues that are in the public interest.