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Since its foundation, The Malta
Press Club (TMPC) has endeavoured to upgrade journalism in Malta.
Ethics, together with Education and Professionalisation, were identified
as the three principles TMPC should pursue to achieve this objective.
In November 1991, following various meeting
between The Malta Press Club and the now defunct Institute of Broadcasters,
a code of journalistic ethics was launched, following approval by
the members of both organisations. That Code, launched during a
press conference on 11 November 1991, provided for the setting up
of the Journalistic Ethics Council, which was to be the precursor
of the present Press Ethics Commission (PEC).
In February 1996, a policy document prepared
by TMPC's Education and Information Secretary, Carmel Bonello, was
presented during a seminar for all Maltese journalists. Among others,
this document put forward new concepts for the promotion of journalistic
ethics, including guidelines for submission and handling of complaints,
as well as for a revision of the former Journalistic Ethics Council.
The document suggested the setting up of a body called the Press
Ethics Commission (PEC) and its composition.
The new PEC became operational in January
1999 under the chairmanship of Notary Myriam Spiteri Debono. In
2001, the Chief Justice Emeritus, Professor Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici,
was appointed Chairman.
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