Calls for the closing down of the political television stations at this year’s State of the Nation conference, under the patronage of HE the President of Malta, were met with mixed reactions.
I am sure that there is merit to such a call, however, what surely cannot be taken for granted is that either the national broadcaster TVM or the Broadcasting Authority will ever act in the unbiased interest for anything or anyone outside of the Government.
Sadly, we have seen it unfold in front of our very eyes a few weeks ago, during the vote counting process following the MEP and Local Council elections of 8 June. While TVM saw fit to switch to its usual snoozy programming, and One TV was in a complete shock of panic (totally understandable) given the unexpected results, it was down to the valiant NET TV and its formidable crews to keep the population updated with the very latest, providing breaking news, and thoughtful discussion throughout the day.
Yes, in an ideal world perhaps private TV stations shouldn’t be so intimately linked to political parties, but what is the alternative at this time?
TVM has been found to be in breach of its core mission to be an unbiased source of information to the nation many times. The Nationalist Party has in fact won several cases at court, where it argued it was being discriminated against.
The coverage during the news bulletins on the national broadcaster tend to be risible. It is not just a matter of news stories pertaining to the opposition being buried down in 7th, 8th or 12th item, sometimes even after the advert break – but it is even the kind of coverage it receives. Some careful analysis will quickly show how a never-ending procession of Ministers and Government exponents are given primetime coverage with edited features and all the bells and whistles, while the Leader of the Opposition is often served with a quick run of hastily put together footage, with the news anchor reading out the item over it live.
It might not be a difference which is evident to most, especially if not very familiar with the media world – but it certainly is witness to unfair treatment.
Perhaps these episodes at the national broadcaster, together with the Broadcasting authority, are symptomatic of the way things are done, where Government has hijacked these precious national assets to its own advantage. No wonder we sometimes jokingly call TVM, Super Two!
And I haven’t started talking about the talk-shows, which leave so much to be desired. Yes, some do make an effort to put up a flimsy veneer of balance, but some others cannot even go as far! Discussion panels are often unbalanced, and uninspiring. We deserve much better!
We must aspire to do things differently. We must look at new models on how things are done, where people can turn to the national broadcasters, over its several channels, and find an unbiased source of information which is not determined by who is currently in Government. A model that favours mature discussion, and the fair distribution of information.