Balzan Claims Independence From MaltaToday Newsroom As PR Activities, Including With Tuna Lobby, Are Exposed
Managing editor of newspaper MaltaToday Saviour Balzan has claimed he has stepped away from the daily running of his newsroom, insisting his work as an advertiser and consultant for the government and private companies has no effect on the newspaper’s editorial slant.
He was reacting to a story by Lovin Malta which revealed how MediaToday is producing and booking advertising material for the government’s Central Link Project and Infrastructure Malta. Times of Malta also reported the story, adding that Balzan’s companies have also offered services to the tuna lobby, among a host of other clients.
Despite claiming to not be involved editorially, Balzan writes regular news stories and opinion articles for the newspaper and its website and also presents one of the national broadcaster’s main current affairs shows: XTRA, on which he recently interviewed Infrastructure Malta CEO Frederick Azzopardi about the controversial Central Link Project.
Meanwhile, just this morning he published an opinion piece on MaltaToday arguing that the protestors of Central Link were hypocritical for closing an eye to other environmental compromises they make.
“The truth is that we all make massive compromises to live our life. Most of us love our cars and enjoy holidays as we travel on airplanes that use tonnes of aviation fuel… We need to put those people who live as they preach at the forefront of this battle. Those who are not shining examples should really walk the plank,” Balzan, a sometimes eager environmentalist, such as during the hunting referendum, wrote.
Frederick Azzopardi with Saviour Balzan
According to Times of Malta, Balzan’s PR and advertising businesses seem to be involved with many government agencies.
A second company of Balzan, Business 2 Business Ltd., has so far received €29,000 for a Transport Malta consultancy contract in 2018, while also undertaking PR services for Malta’s tuna lobby, the Federation for Malta Aquaculture Producers (FMAP), the newspaper claimed.
Balzan is yet to answer Lovin Malta’s questions. However, when speaking to Times of Malta, Balzan downplayed any issues of conflicts of interest in his dual role as owner of one of Malta’s independent media houses and government publicist.
“When the occasion arises and I submit an article for publication, it goes through the same protocol of fact-checking like any other article by our executive editor. The final say is with the executive editor. Unlike other companies, our shareholders do not represent big business, unions, or foundations with diverse assets.”
“More importantly, I do not mince my words when it comes to putting forward pertinent questions. I have never ever interviewed anyone as sponsored content. This has been the case since I have operated a hard talk programme on TVM since 1999,” Balzan explained.
Balzan's Opinion Piece
Going further he added that his company was a diverse enterprise which included “audio-visual services, publishing, design and now we also serve as an advertising agency, recognised even by the Times, and provide monthly reputable polling to various private companies, agencies, all political parties and lobby groups.”
“We also book for clients according to what clients’ request. The advert your journalist refers to also appeared in The Sunday Times and in all other media in an equal fashion or according to the popularity of a medium.”
“We have diversified our business to allow for revenues to reinvest to allow for producing high-quality independent journalism,” Mr Balzan said when asked about the Infrastructure Malta advert he booked into his own newspaper.
Meanwhile, Balzan has since refused to answer Lovin Malta’s questions on the record. These are the questions we asked:
1. Can you explain why you don’t see a conflict of interest in MediaToday producing ads and buying advertising space for entities such as Infrastructure Malta?
2. Can you detail your business set up? (How many businesses are you involved in, and how do you maintain independence of MaltaToday?)
3. Are the sales teams of such companies separate or are they the same people?
4. Do these companies operate from the same premises as MaltaToday?
5. Don’t you think readers of MaltaToday deserve to know about these business dealings?
6. Does MediaToday also buy advertising on Maltatoday including an agency fee?
7. Are your journalists and editors fully aware of such dealings and have they ever raised concerns over conflict of interest?
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