1. ETHICS
Journalism in Malta has suffered and continues to suffer because
of a number of journalists who do not abide by the Code of Ethics,
adopted by The Malta Press Club and the now defunct Institute
of Broadcasters in September 1993.
The publication of the code assisted and even encouraged the
process of ethical debate on journalism, a debate which was
absent until the 1990s. Of course, there is little use, if any,
for a Code of Ethics which is not enforceable. More so of "journalists"
are allowed to flout it with impunity. Such practice can only
lessen the already low esteem the general public has in the
media, certainly in terms of credibility and confidence (The
Sunday Times, 10 May 1998 - "Not all is well in the state of
Newsland", Fr Joe Borg).
The Code of Ethics must be enforceable henceforth, which means
that an enforcement mechanism must be out in place and given
all the necessary facilities, administrative and others, to
function expeditiously and reliably. The action taken by The
Malta Press Club in this direction must be three-pronged: *
A Press Ethics Commission (PEC) shall be set up forthwith to
decide on complaints about alleged breach of the Code of Ethics.
* Once the PEC is set up and running, The Malta Press Club
shall embark on a nation-wide exercise to discuss the present
Code of Ethics, with the aim of improving it and, in the process,
obtain the widest support possible for its provisions.
* Talks shall be opened soonest with publishing houses/broadcasting
stations (employers) in order to include the (amended) Code
of Ethics as part of journalists contract of employment and
in any written/verbal agreements between employers and freelancers.
Time frames No effort should be spared to ensure that the three
targets above reached within the following time periods:
* The PEC ought to be set up and functioning by February 1999.
Talks between the media industry and the Council of The Malta
Press Club on funding should start immediately and must be wrapped
up by not later than May 1999 (1).
* The nation-wide campaign should be launched by not later
than April 1999 and be completed by December 1999.
* Talks with employers should start in March 1999 and concluded
by June 1999. The Baldacchino Report should be completed by
January 2000 (2).
1.2 PRESS ETHICS COMMISSION The aims of the Press Ethics Commission
(PEC) shall be to preserve the freedom of the press; to maintain
moral character and integrity by the press in accordance with
the highest professional standards; and to create the atmosphere
conducive to self-regulation.
1.2.1 Composition The PEC shall consist of chairman and two
members. A member of the Council of The Malta Press Club shall
be nominated as secretary by the Council in consultation with
the PEC chairman. The secretary's duties shall be purely clerical/administrative
and s/he shall not take an active participation in sittings
and/or deliberations. Indeed, the PEC chairman or any member
of the PEC so desires. The PEC shall be considered to be completely
autonomous and independent of The Malta Press Club. It shall
be answerable neither to the annual general meeting of the The
Malta Press Club, nor to the Council. The chairman shall ideally
be a member of the legal profession (even if retired) and the
two members shall include a retired journalist not holding a
permanent position with any publishing house or broadcasting
station, and a person representing the general public (the College
of Mayors or a State registered Consumers' Protection Association
can be invited to nominate a representative). Their appointment,
made by the Council of The Malta Press Club in consultation
with the media industry which will be expected to fund the PEC,
will be for a period of two years. They may, however, be re-appointed.
Remuneration will be discussed individually between the three
components of the PEC, and the Council of The Malta Press Club.
1.2.3 Rules
The Malta Press Club is proposing the following draft rules
of procedure. The rules will however be only finalised after
consultation with the PEC members:
1. The PEC shall exclusively consider allegations of breach
of the Code of Ethics.
2. Complaints about alleged breaches liable to court action
under the Press Act or any other law shall not be entertained
unless complainant undertakes in writing not to institute legal
proceedings about the case in question.
3. An application before the PEC will automatically be considered
to have been withdrawn in the eventuality that complainant decides
to seek court redress notwithstanding the waiver. The complainant
shall be informed in writing when this occurs.
4. A complaint should first be made to the editor/head of
news of the publication/station which carried/broadcast the
offending item.
5. The PEC shall not proceed to hear complaints which have
already been referred to the attention of any readers'/audience
representative nominated by individual media organisations (it
is recommended that such representatives are appointed after
the PEC is formed and functioning regularly, giving it adequate
time to step into gear and get over any teething troubles).
In such cases, the PEC shall only serve as an appeals board
and this on the specific request in writing by complainant or
the editor/head of news of the publication/station which carried/broadcast
the offending item. Here, the PEC shall set its own procedure
but time-frames applicable to first instance complaints (see
below) shall also apply.
6. Complaints must be made in writing and submitted either
to the PEC directly or to the Council of The Malta Press Club
which shall refer the complaint to the PEC within two working
days from receipt of the complaint.
7. Every complaint must include documentation related to the
case in question, such as press cuttings, in the case of printed
material, and video/audio tape recording and transcript in the
case of broadcast material, press releases, correspondence etc.
Copies of correspondence exchanged between complainant and the
editor/head of news of the publication/station which carried/broadcast
the offending item must also be included.
8. The PEC shall, within five working days from receipt of
the complaint and relative documentation, acknowledge such receipt
in writing to complainant.
9. It shall be the duty of the PEC chairman to decide whether
there is prima facie breach of ethics. The decision shall be
communicated to the complainant in writing within 10 working
days of receipt of complaint, giving the reasons if the complaint
is rejected.
10. If there is a prima facie breach of ethics the same communication
shall also include an indication of the date when the first
sitting on the complaint in question is to be held and where.
The PEC's rules of procedures will also be communicated to complainant.
11. The above applies also to the journalist against whom the
compliant is being made and the editor/head of news of the medium
where the contribution in question was carried/broadcast.
12. The complainant shall have the right for assistance by
a (one) trusted person at hearings. This also applied to the
journalist against whom the complaint is being made and to the
medium where the contribution in question was carried/broadcast.
13. The absence of any of the parties shall not invalidate
a sitting.
14. It shall be up to the chairman of the PEC to set the dates
of hearings.
15. It is also up to the chairman of the PEC to determine what
sort of participation the representative of the medium where
the contribution in question was carried/broadcast shall have
during the sittings.
16. A complainant may drop a case by writing a formal letter
to the PEC. All parties shall then shall then be immediately
informed by the PEC.
17. The PEC shall limit its decisions to a pronouncement of
whether there was breach of Code of Ethics or not and the reasons
which led to the decision. It may also offer advice or suggest
improvements to the Code of Ethics.
18. It shall not be the PEC's role to inflict punishment:
that shall be up to (a) The Malta Press Club - by way of a public
sanction - and (b) industry - by way of disciplinary action
once violation of the Code of Ethics would automatically mean
breach of one's contract of employment.
19. All PEC rulings shall be communicated to their complainant,
the journalist against whom the complaint was made, the medium
where the contribution in question was carried/broadcast and
to the Council of The Malta Press Club. Such rulings will be
made public, not later than five days from date of communication
to all parties.
20. The PEC shall have the final word.
21. At the end of every calendar year the PEC shall publish
a full list of complaints received and their outcome.
22. All documentation and rulings shall be accessible to the
public and filed accordingly in The Malta Press Club archives
for future reference and research. Additional role
23. It shall be the PEC's role to draw up detailed guidelines
further explaining the main principles listed in the Code of
Ethics.
24. If it so desires, the PEC may also entrust this role to
a sub-committee chaired by one of its three members.
25. These guidelines will at least be reviewed every three
years or whenever the PEC suggests improvements to the Code
of Ethics. The guidlines shall be made public.
1.2 NATION-WIDE CAMPAIGN
When it is satisfied that the PEC is functioning as desired,
The Malta Press Club shall launch a nation-wide campaign having
three main aims:
1. Urge journalists and, especially, editors to adhere to the
Code of Ethics.
2. Promote the understanding and observance of the Code of
Ethics and its values among the general public.
3. Obtain the widest possible support for the Code of Ethics.
All this can be done by soliciting the input and, hence the
endorsement of the following organisations/sectors initially
in writing, and then via formal meetings: * The Malta Labour
Party / the Nationalist Party / Alternattiva Demokratika; *
The Church; * The Malta Employers' Association; * The General
Workers' Union; Union Haddiema Maghqudin; and the Confederation
of Trade Unions; * Publishing houses and TV/radio stations,
that is the Employers of journalists; * The Malta Broadcasting
Authority; * The Commission for the Advancement of Women; *
The Commission for the Administration of Justice; * The Employment
Training Corporation; * The College of Mayors; * The Association
of Local Councils; * State-approved consumer protection societies;
* The general public. It is felt that such an exercise should
be a sound first step towards regaining the credibility lost
over the years by journalists (see report by Fr Joe Borg, rapporteur
of the ethics and national recognition group) .
It is futile having the most comprehensive Code of Ethics in
the world if journalists fail to respect it. Thus, whether journalists
are to regain credibility or not depends completely on them,
individually and collectively. The Malta Press Club is however
determined not to allow any black sheep to disrupt the harmony
of the flock. Bad elements shall be nipped at the bud. Hence
the setting up of the PEC.
This nation-wide campaign should ideally be conducted by an
ad hoc committee, not having more than five members. The chairman
shall be appointed by The Malta Press Club. The committee shall
include a representative of the Council of The Malta Press Club
and a member of the legal profession familiar with the journalists'
Code of Ethics. The other members will be nominated from different
sectors. Apart from the above function, the committee shall
also be entrusted with the task of: * Studying the implications
of the Code of Ethics vis-a-vis the Constitution of Malta, the
European Convention of Fundamental Human Rights and Liberties,
the Press Act, and other relevant legislation (see report by
Fr Joe Borg, rapporteur of the ethics and national recognition
group, p.2 pt 4). * Meeting the Malta Broadcasting Authority
(MBA) in view of the fact that the authority has its own guidelines
for news broadcasts and the PEC may have before it complaints
involving such broadcasts. The PEC should also be involved in
such talks (see report by Fr Joe Borg, rapporteur of the ethics
and national recognition group, p.2, proposals pt 1 para. 2).
* Liaising with the Education and Training Working Group set
up by The Malta Press Club in order to devise courses in ethical
issues (see report by Fr Joe Borg, rapporteur of the ethics
and national recognition group, p.3 pt 6) which full-time journalists
will be expected to attend at least once every three years.
1.3 FORMAL COMMITMENT
It is strongly felt that having the Code of Ethics forming
part of a journalist's employment contract will be mutually
beneficial to both employer and employee. It will serve as a
safeguard to both. The Malta Press Club shall start talks with
publishing houses/broadcasting stations (employers) in order
to include the (amended) Code of Ethics as part of journalists
contract of employment and in any written/verbal agreements
between employers and freelancers. It must be made abundantly
clear from the outset that failure or refusal to do so does
not release any journalist, member or not of The Malta Press
Club, from the duty to observe the Code of Ethics.
Employers obviously have the right to set their own standards
and to issue to their journalists their own guidlines of ethics/practice.
These should be in addition to, and not in substitution of,
the Code of Ethics adopted by The Malta Press Club.
The Malta Press Club shall inform the public of any cases
where its Code of Ethics is being ignored by individual journalists/employers
and/or where provisions of guidelines/codes issued by individual
employers run counter to those contained in the Code of Ethics
issued by The Malta Press Club. In other words, the Code of
Ethics issued by The Malta Press Club should be regarded as
the minimum and not the maximum. Preferably, employers should
agree with The Malta Press Club on what type of disciplinary
action would be contemplated in cases of breach of the Code
of Ethics. This should help to make journalists more aware of
their responsibilities and what they are exposing themselves
to if they choose to deliberately breach the Code of Ethics.
This relationship between the employer and The Malta Press Club
is exclusively limited to ethical issues.
Issues of an industrial or other nature shall be tackled by
the competent authorities. In order to be more firmly placed
when tackling the matter of the Code of Ethics forming part
of the employment contract, The Malta Press Club will be asking
sociologist and researcher Godfrey Baldacchino (2) to study
the issue in greater depth (see report by Fr Joe Borg, rapporteur
of the ethics and national recognition group). (l) Contributions
by employers For the purposes of funding the PEC, The Malta
Press Club is proposing the following contributory scheme: Lm150
per annum for every daily newspaper; Lm200 per annum for every
Sunday newspaper Lm100 per annum for every weekly newspaper
(not a Sunday paper); Lm50 per annum for every other newspaper.
Lm250 per annum for every TV station. Lm100 per annum for every
(national) radio station. Lm50 per annum for every regional
radio station or radio station or radio stations broadcasting
irregularly.
2.0 EDUCATION
& TRAINING
The need for a structure for journalistic education and training
has been identified as important since the formation of The
Malta Press Club in November 1989. The Council has already tried
to tackle this matter with the University of Malta, but evidently
more work still has to be carried out in order to achieve the
objectives listed in this document.
2.1 Immediate objectives As a first step towards raising
journalistic professional standards, The Malta Press Club shall:
2.1a Develop and introduce a Training Matrix. This will set
down on paper, for the first time, acceptable standards of knowledge
and skills required by those working in journalism. It shall
also lead to the introduction, from the beginning of 2002 -
also for the first time - of an acceptable qualification as
one of the requirements for The Malta Press Club membership,
following its restructuring in 2002.
2.1b Encourage the University of Malta to include more journalistic
(both print and electronic) credits in the B.A. Communications
Course according to the Training Matrix.
2.1c Either develop a three year evening Certificate Course
in Journalism based on a credit system in conjunction with the
University of Malta. This will be held every five years. Or,
involving university professors and lecturers, and other senior
members from The Malta Press Club who have the relevant qualifications
or expertise, this course will be solely organised by The Malta
Press Club, or may be run in conjunction with a foreign university
(which would recognise our local needs). This Certificate Course
will be funded on commercial lines (ie each course should be
self-financing). Alternatively, introduce Non Vocational Qualifications
(NVQs) in Journalism.
2.1d Develop a Continual Development Programme (CDP) on a basis
of academic knowledge, skills matrix and NVQs. Journalists are
to be part of this programme if they want to maintain membership
status and not fall in the associate membership category. This
programme shall include workshops on particular skills, specialisation
seminars, and refresher courses. Foreign expertise should be
also sought to raise standards further.
2.1e Establish two annual scholarships, or grants, or attachments
(one in broadcasting and another in print journalism) for full
members (vide membership structure) who have distiguished themselves
through their commitment towards both their professional development
and the Press Club (Malta). Applicants for these scholarships
who have obtained the requisite number of credits (see 2.1.2)
as decreed by the Council of The Malta Press Club, and/or who
have regularly supported and assisted The Malta Press Club shall
be given preference.
2.2 Medium term objectives - Year 2000
2.2a To develop with the University of Malta a one year full-time
or two-year part-time independent postgraduate degree level
course or Master of Arts specialising in Journalism (PGJDegree/M.A.).
All University graduates should be able to apply for the PGJD/M.A.
2.2b To obtain recognition for The Malta Press Club's Certificate
Course in Journalism if and when this Course is held.
2.2c To develop an evening Diploma Course in Journalism for
those who want to further their studies beyond the Certificate
and NVQs level.
2.2d To make the necessary arrangements so that holders of
the above mentioned qualifications (2.2c) and who have at least
five years of full-time journalistic experience, would also
qualify to pursue the PGJDegree/M.A.
2.2e To set the briefs for, and contributing to the intellectual
and practical expansion of journalism in Malta through research.
There can be two ways how research can be encouraged. A Research
Fund created by The Malta Press Club (through its Education
and Training Working Group) would serve (i) to commission particular
research; and (ii) to establish The Malta Press Club Research
Prize open to students or academics who endeavour to pursue
research in aspects of journalism in Malta. The results emanating
from the various studies will be published on an annual basis.
2.2f To establish local and overseas attachments for future
journalists who are still pursuing / have pursued University
courses.
2.3 Long term objectives - Year 2002 and beyond
2.3a To ensure that the basics of Journalism as a subject are
adequately and correctly covered at both public and private
Higher Secondary Level Education.
2.3b To act as a "research lab" for the profession. The organisation
of seminars on specific aspects of journalism and/or an annual
national conference on a specific theme which will carry the
motto for that year, shall be effected.
2.4 Education & Training Working Group In 1998, an Education
& Training Working Group, under the chairmanship of the Council's
Education Secretary, shall be set up to develop an education
policy, prepare reports, finalise details, implement and administer
The Malta Press Club's Education Policy in a professional manner.
Ideally, this Group - consisting of not more than five persons
in all - shall include both members and non-members who have
distinguished themselves in the professional, academic and administrative
fields related to journalism. Currently, such a broad educational
and training policy does not exist and will need to be created.
This Working Group shall address the following: By 1999
2.4.1 defining the educational and training requirements at
each of the levels listed above to formulate an education policy
which will cater for the knowledge base required by journalists
in order to pursue their work in a professional manner;
2.4.2 developing and establishing quality standards, and a
review process through which (a) educational and training programmes
are regularly assessed, adapted and upgraded, and (b) members
are regularly (annually / biennially) assessed in order to follow
their development;
2.4.3 developing a research policy and setting a research fund
to financially support this venture;
By 2000 2.4.4 creating an action plan to position The Malta
Press Club as advisers to educators on the subject or, where
appropriate, as creators of educational programmes. This should
also serve as an important platform in the efforts to achieve
professionalisation and national recognition;
2.4.5 broadening the linkage between the professional practice
and the educational sector in Malta and abroad;
2.4.6 building on an on-going professional development programme
and encouraging all journalists to participate in this programme
as one of the requisites for journalists to achieve and maintain
professional status;
Beyond 2002
2..4.7 providing training in journalism for non-journalist
professionals to broaden understanding and awareness of journalistic
issues and the role of The Malta Press Club.
3.0 PROFESSIONALisation
According to the foundation (first version of) statute, "the
Press Club (Malta) shall promote unity among all its members
as individuals and in their personal capacity by working together
to enhance the image of journalism and to foster friendship
and co-operation among themselves." Currently, there are a number
of ways in which The Malta Press Club can benefit its members
according to the above. These include:
3.1 BPC Award to Journalists This award should be further strengthened
and developed as a major educational event for journalists.
Following the successful inclusion of the Press Photography
category, Press Cartoons should also be included as a separate
category.
3.2 Press Photography The Malta Press Club has organised three
photographic exhibitions ("Press Photography" - March 1991,
"Royalty in Malta" - May 1992 and "Press Photography II" - October
1993). A press photo exhibition should be regularly held on
bi-annual basis.
3.3 Press Cartoons In November 1991, a collection of 50 press
cartoons by 12 Maltese cartoonists marked the first press cartoons
exhibition ever held in Malta. All these four exhibitions, which
were financially backed by the same sponsor, proved an attraction
with the general public. A press cartoons exhibition should
be regularly held on a bi-annual basis.
3.4 The Malta Press Club Journal/Annual Used to be issued bi-monthly
on a regular basis, the Journal was stopped due to lack of funds.
It is being suggested that an annual publication will be issued
with articles being contributed by members and non-members about
journalism in Malta. The Council may also consider commissioning
proper scientific studies which may be published in this annual.
This would serve the purpose of building a base of information
for encouragement of future research.
3.5 Membership Structure According to our membership list,
The Malta Press Club today represents a good percentage of working
journalists. The objective is to have a balanced structure of
membership equally distributed between Fellows, Members and
Associate Members.
3.5.1 A list of Fellows will be developed (a) for those active
members with 30 or more years experience in journalism; (b)
for those who obtain the post-graduate diploma and for ten consecutive
years following the post-graduate diploma have sucessfully attended
and continue to attend the on-going professional development
(CPD) programme;
3.5.2 Members shall attend at least one course per year, organised
by The Malta Press Club, to maintain their status (ie have their
name listed as professional journalists).
3.5.3 The membership structure should also include Associate
Members: those who would like to join The Malta Press Club but
have not yet achieved / could not achieve membership status
and for communication and journalism students.
3.6 Representatives of The Malta Press Club In order to facilitate
symmetrical communications between the Council of The Malta
Press Club and Members as well as vice versa, a Malta Press
Club Delegate shall be appointed / elected in each newsroom
from among the Members of The Malta Press Club. It is important
that the Delegate's role will be defined as experience is gained
on this subject.
3.7 Working Groups The Council shall actively encourage the
setting up of a number of Working Groups both to tackle the
core issues (as identified in this document ie: Ethics, Education,
etc) as well as for particular journalistic areas (such as a
Press Photography Working Group, Press Cartoons Working Group,
Court Reporters Working Group and Premises Working Group to
mention just a few). These Working Groups, set up to tackle
particular issues and/or to organise particular events, shall
assist the Press Club (Malta) in achieving the desired results
for its Members.
3.8 The Malta Press Club Benevolent Fund The Malta Press Club
Benevolent Fund will serve to increase solidarity among Maltese
journalists, which has been one of the prime objectives of The
Malta Press Club itself. This can be funded by social and other
activities organised by the journalists themselves for other
Members, relatives, friends, and supporters of The Malta Press
Club. The setting up of an insurance scheme (such as BUPA or
PPP) for all Members shall be actively investigated by the Treasurer
and the Membership Secretary. A report by these two Council
members shall be presented to Council for consideration.
4.0 THE PREMISES
4.1 Purpose From this report, one has to conclude that it
is necessary for The Malta Press Club to have its premises.
These should serve as a base to generate and coordinate corporate,
professional, educational and social activity: 4.1.1 Centralised
Administration
4.1.2 Education & Training
4.1.3 Council & Members' Meetings
4.1.4 Co-ordination of Campaigns
4.1.5 Specialised Book/Audiovisual Library/Archives
4.1.6 A Valletta-base for working journalists
4.1.7 A venue for journalistic events 4.2 Funding Way back
in 1990, a Premises Fund was set up by the Council. To date
this fund has collected a sum of money which, by any standard,
is still very far from what is required to maintain and develop
a level of activity, (and eventually purchase The Malta Press
Club's own premises). The current premises at 104 Old Mint Street
Valletta is on loan from BPC International Limited. It is anticipated
that in five to ten years' time, this would not be adequate
for the purposes, increased activity and development of The
Malta Press Club. Eventually a bigger premises, perhaps in another
location, will be required. In the meantime, under the leadership
of a Press Club's Treasurer, a fund-raising campaign can be
developed to cover the expenses involved in adequately furnishing
the present Press Club's premises. The following requirements
are necessary:
4.2.1 Computer system (hardware and software including Internet)
4.2.2 Journalistic books, journals and magazines
4.2.3 Audiovisuals for journalistic training
4.2.4 Big Screen TV (and eventual cable TV when it is available
in Valletta) and
4.2.5 Airconditioner (to make the premises user-friendly in
summer).
A Funding Raising Group shall be set up, under the leadership
of the Press Club Treasurer, to develop a fund-raising campaign
to cover the expenses involved. This fund-raising campaign may
include various schemes. An example: leading companies and institutions
may each be offered the possibility to sponsor a room (The X
Room, The Y Room) for a five to ten year period. The price tag
will be according to the size of the room and ideally shall
be paid in bulk in advance (say Lm300 per annum for Library
Room meaning Lm1,500; another Lm400 per annum for Lecture Room
meaning Lm2,000).
Another example: till now, the press and broadcast managements
were in no way involved in helping The Malta Press Club. Those
who forwarded a cheque, only contributed ludicrous sums (Lm
25 !). It will be comforting to know that these managements
recognise the benefits they can reap from our initiatives. Radio
Stations, Television Stations, and Print Establishments may
now be asked to pledge a recurrent annual contribution of advertising
space equivalent to (a minimum of) Lm150, and Lm250 per radio
station and per each newspaper /television by each establishment.
This space will then be bartered for required items by The Malta
Press Club. This scheme alone may help to generate the required
revenue.
5.0 NATIONAL
RECOGNITION
5.1 Promoting Professional Practice Since its inception, The
Malta Press Club has sought to be the voice, not only of its
members, but of all Maltese journalists in order to achieve
a higher standard of journalism. It is however essential that
The Malta Press Club represents the views of its members. Although
work has been done in this direction, no explicit policy exists
on positioning The Malta Press Club to attain national recognition
in this regard. A policy, under the leadership of the Chairman,
shall be formulated and executed. This policy shall:
5.1.1 position The Malta Press Club as the premier national
representative body for Maltese print and broadcast journalists
for its mission towards:
5.1.2 preserving the freedom of the Press, its ethical standards
and the right to information as the prerequisite for the public's
right to information;
5.1.3 reviewing and upgrading the performance of journalists
through educational and ethical assistance in fulfilling their
unique responsibility to perform according to the Code of Ethics;
5.1.4 lobbying with Government and Opposition to recognise
journalism as a profession and amend press laws to raise journalists
to professional status.
5.1.5 actively seeking to build bridges between The Malta Press
Club and other representative bodies at a national (Ministries,
Political Parties, Unions, Professional Bodies) and European/International
level (I.P.I., I.F.J.,);
