IGM condemns attack on journalist

The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) condemns the statement made by Karl Stagno Navarra on the programme Pjazza, that aired on One TV, regarding a Lovin Malta journalist.
During the programme, the show’s presenter aired footage of a protest organised by Repubblika taking place outside the police headquarters in Floriana and identified a journalist by name, insinuating that the journalist was part of the protest or one of the people behind it.
The footage showed a couple of PN MPs on site, the protestors, and then the journalist in question and a priest. While the programme’s presenter mentions the journalist by name, he then goes on to say that he is not attacking the journalist for being there.
The IGM believes that if the presenter did not intend to target the journalist, then there was no need to highlight and name a journalist who was on site doing his work.
This misrepresentation of a journalist doing his job is wrong, condemnable and is an attempt to try and tarnish the journalist’s reputation.
After all that this country has gone through as a result of the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, trying to paint a negative picture of individual journalists is dangerous.
While the programme’s presenter has a right to his own opinions and to free speech, the IGM believes that his actions with regard to the journalist in question were wrong.
The IGM also notes Stagno Navarra’s subsequent apology to the journalist in question but insists that this behaviour should not be repeated.

The IGM received a complaint from Lovin Malta on the matter and later sought Stagno Navarra’s reaction, as per normal procedure.