Journalists’ questions regarding COVID19 measures censored on TVM…again

Yet again, the directive of the Malta Broadcasting Authority has been used to censor the information given to the public. For the second time, following a directive issued by the Malta Broadcasting Authority, the questions asked by the press were censored from broadcast on what has now become a State Broadcaster and not a National Broadcaster. During question time, the Deputy Prime Minister opted to clarify aspects of the measures introduced. Yet the public watching TVM were not aware of such clarifications since the transmission was cut short.

Following a meeting with the Broadcasting Authority, the IGM Council had been assured that the directive was going to be reconsidered in ‘the second phase’ of the pandemic. IGM demands immediate and concrete action from the BA. Not doing so would leave IGM no other option but to seek other remedies.

On this, the third anniversary of the murder of a journalist who fought for freedom of expression, this censorship and protection of the powerful at the expense of the citizen is a slap in the face of democracy.