Complaint regarding journalist obstructed from carrying out their line of duty

The Institute of Maltese Journalists received a complaint from Mr Josef Caruana, the head of news at ONE, on 19 November 2024. In his complaint, Caruana said one of his journalists was shoved by the Nationalist Party’s communications chief Nathaniel Attard and obstructed from carrying out his duties while covering a protest outside parliament. Caruana said the journalist should have never been touched, let alone shoved, out of respect to the journalist and to democracy.

After requesting footage of the incident, the IĠM council reviewed the complaint and the footage.

The IĠM concluded that the footage does show the journalist being shoved and obstructed while taking a comment from the Opposition leader. The PN communications chief should not have laid a hand on a journalist in their line of duty.

The IĠM insists that journalists should be allowed to work freely and without obstruction, even when doorstepping politicians. Respect between journalists and people in public life is necessary from both sides.