Press statement
IGM condemns unethical journalism standards
The Institute of Maltese Journalists is seriously concerned about the unethical behaviour of journalists who attempted to expose the sources of colleagues from a competing section of the press.
The IGM received a complaint by NET Television about unethical behaviour by colleagues at ONE News who on Friday attempted to reveal the identity of a prisoner who spoke anonymously to NET News about the situation in prison.
The IGM sought an explanation from ONE News on the complaint against it and the editor said the newsroom published NET TV’s right of reply immediately.
However, no reference was made to the central issue concerning the attempt to unmask a source.
In these circumstances, the IGM feels that not only did ONE News put the NET News journalist and the alleged prisoner in danger, but it also blatantly undermined the work of other journalists since sources might now be reluctant to speak up.
The institute reminds journalists that it is their duty to protect sources at all times. This is also protected at law and we believe it also applies to sources of other journalists. No journalist should attempt to undermine the work of another journalist by identifying the source because this puts at risk the protection of sources and also puts sources in difficult and potentially dangerous situations.
L-IGM jikkundanna gurnalizmu mhux etiku
L-Istitut tal-Gurnalisti Maltin huwa mhasseb serjament dwar imgieba mhux etika ta’ gurnalisti li ppruvaw jesponu is-sorsi ta’ kollegi minn media ohra kompetitrici.
L-IGM ircieva lment minn NET TV dwar imgieba mhux etika ta’ kollegi minn ONE News li nhar il-gimgha ppruvaw jikxfu l-identita ta’ prigunier li kellem b’mod anonimu lil NET News dwar is-sitwazzjoni fil-habs.
L-IGM talab spjega minn ONE News fuq l-ilment kontrihom u l-editur wiegeb li l-kamra tal-ahbarijiet xandret immedjatament id-dritt ta’ risposta mibghuta minn NET TV.
Madankollu ma saret l-ebda referenza ghal-kwistjoni marbuta mal-kxif tas-sors.
Ghaldaqstant, l-IGM ihoss li ONE News mhux biss poggew lill-gurnalist ta’ NET News u l-allegat prigunier fil-perkilu, imma imminaw ix-xoghol ta’ gurnalisti ohra ghax is-sorsi jistghu jzommu lura milli jitkellmu.
L-IGM jikkundanna bl-ikbar qawwa din l-imgieba mhux etika.
L-istitut ifakkar lill-gurnalisti li hu d-dmir taghhom li jipprotegu s-sorsi f’kull hin. Dan id-dmir hu wkoll imhares bil-ligi u nemmnu li jghodd ukoll ghas-sorsi ta’ gurnalisti ohra.
L-ebda gurnalist m’ghandu jimmina x-xoghol ta’ gurnalist iehor billi jikxef min hu s-sors ghax dan ipoggi f’riskju l-principju tal-protezzjoni tas-sors u tpoggi s-sorsi f’sitwazzjoni difficli u potenzjalment f’periklu