Guest Post: The Decline Of Real Debate On PBS
You’ve probably heard about the recent incident at the University of Malta which saw the University Student Council (KSU) censor pro-choice material on the Moviment Graffitti stand during Freshers’ Week.
Prime Minister Robert Abela responded to outrage about the incident by condemning KSU’s actions, insisting that the University should be a forum where these ideas are debated. And how right he is! I think we can all agree that the University should be a place for lively discussion about even the most controversial of subjects. But what about PBS?
If we agree on the importance of debate at the University, surely, we should feel the same way about the national broadcaster. what do we say about PBS? Where are the real debates on our public broadcaster?
Programmes like Question Time, Panorama, and Have I Got News for You in the UK; 60 Minutes, Late Night Shows, and Frontline in the United States; Report, Che Tempo Che Fa, and Le Iene on RAI in Italy. What is the Maltese equivalent of these programmes.
Can we really say we live in a thriving democracy where ideas are truly debated if other national broadcaster is more concerned with doing as the party in power says rather than promoting healthy debate and discussion?
Sure, we have programmes like Popolin and Xtra but ask yourself, when was the last time you switched on the television specifically to watch a debate on current issues? I would venture a guess and say that most haven’t done so since Xarabank was taken off the air.
A story of steady decline
PBS today is not what it once was—not that it was ever great, but it feels like it has today truly become a desert of ideas. Yes, there are good entertainment programmes like X Factor, Masterchef, and Love Island… but do these types of programmes belong on PBS? Or rather, are we happy with better quality entertainment replacing serious debate and discussion?
In the days of Xarabank, politicians found themselves grilled on current events in front of the whole country. It wasn’t always the most sophisticated debate but it added a modicum of accountability to a political system which is largely bereft of it. From the debate about joining the European Union to the Panama Papers and the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia—if there was something stirring interest, more often than not, you’d find a debate on it on public broadcasting.
Now, let’s consider the government scandals that occurred after Xarabank disappeared from PBS. The Rosianne Cutajar scandal, the Vitals scandal, the ID cards scandal, the driving licences scandal, the public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia—do you remember these issues being debated on PBS? I certainly don’t.
Throughout these scandals, on PBS, Rosianne Cutajar never spoke about her actions, Adrian Delia never spoke about the Vitals scandal, Jason Azzopardi never spoke about the ID cards scandal, Aaron Farrugia never answered for the driving licences racket… and Isabelle Bonnici, Jean Paul Sofia’s mother, only spoke after the Prime Minister’s U-turn on the public inquiry—not before, but a week after the vigil commemorating her son’s memory.
Previously, there were programmes like Xarabank and L-Erbgħa f’Ost il-Ġimgħa, but PBS either cancelled them or interfered too much in their content. Peppi Azzopardi has said it many times, and Mark Laurence Zammit admitted that the main reason he left PBS was government interference.
Majority still informed by TV
Today, according to the latest Broadcasting Authority audience survey, nine out of 10 Maltese people watch television yet they still don’t have a platform where they can see these issues being discussed in a non-partisan manner.
So where does this leave us? If PBS is the primary medium that the Maltese trust to get their information, and this national broadcaster is plagued by state control and the absence of serious debate, then where is our freedom of expression? A truly democratic society requires a platform for open, honest, and critical discussions—one that isn’t controlled by vested interests. Without this, we are left with a one-sided narrative, devoid of the vigorous debates that help us grow and understand different perspectives.
The lack of real debate on PBS leaves a void in Maltese public discourse. If we want to maintain a healthy democracy, we need to demand better from our public broadcaster. We need independent, critical programming that challenges those in power and provides a platform for all voices to be heard. It is only by reinstating genuine debate that PBS can fulfil its role as a true public service broadcaster, serving the people rather than the interests of the powerful.
This article is the first in a two-part series exploring the current state of Malta’s national broadcaster.
Do you think there is a lack of serious debate on TVM?
Lovin Malta is open to interesting, compelling guest posts from third parties. These opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Submit your piece at [email protected]