Category: Mediawatch

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Mediawatch

Reporters Sans Frontières

NGO Reporters Sans Frontières has released the 2010 Press Freedom Index. You can find this index by clicking here. Surprisingly, given the weird goings on in the field of censorship in the island over the past year, Malta’s performance is quite good. It features in the 14th place overall – which is excellent to be honest. Which got J’accuse thinking. How exactly is the information compiled? More importantly who compiles it? By following the link you can also se the pdf documents explaining what questions were asked of each country and how the questions were scored (marked). What we do not know is what answers were given for Malta.

Before you go ballistic, we are not trying to imply that Malta is some sort of third world state with no real press freedoms but think of these points:

1) Censorship of Realtà magazine

2) Dearth of investigative journalism on TV and press

3) the absence of independent TVs

4) the strong presence of establishment points of view and barriers to the market penetration

5) lack of scrutiny of such programmes as exist (they can afford to bumble on in limbo)

6) The facility with which a politician can be classified as a pressman for the purposes of political propaganda (see JPO)

7) the weakness of the freedom of information and data protection acts

8) the farcical conditions and conditioning with which our politicians allow scrutiny of their acts (can you really investigate a politician or must you submit to the conditions for interview?)

There’s more. But it does make you wonder who is sending the info to RSF. Who exactly made Malta sound like an idyllic state where the press is performing its functions of the fourth estate and fourth guardian of democratic principles? Interesting questions no?

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Mediawatch

Definitely not Bondi+

Here’s an interesting interview with Roberto Saviano. Look out (3 minutes plus) for the explanation on why it is important that investigative (and narrative) programs exist and more importantly that they are paid (and paid well, when they generate good returns from ads). But more importantly look out for how Saviano explains that the biggest justification for having people earning money from these programmes is that they can be judged, that we can expect standards from them and that the job is well done. Next time you complain about Bondi+ don’t get stuck on the typical Maltese pettiness of who earns what and why – remember the crucial point : the obligation Bondi and his team have to provide a quality investigative programme of real journalism. J’accuse will keep on reminding Bondi of his obligation and we will continue to bask in the idea that he actually thinks he can get away selling the idea that he is unaware of any criticism because he can’t read.

“Essere professionale significa che lo spettatore puo giudicare anche in maniera severa. Perche sei stato pagato e quindi devi dare il meglio di te.” – Saviano

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Mediawatch

Faith No More

The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church is experiencing a veritable hemorrhage of members since Christian Democrat leader Päivi Räsänen presented what has been described as an “uncompromising, fundamentalist view” on the issue of homosexuality. Appearing on a TV programme, Päivi Räsänen described homosexual relations as “bad” and this provoked a flood of resignations from the church that has reached the figure of 20,000 in almost a week.

During the TV debate, Räsänen, president of the christian democrat party, insisted that “obviously, a person knows that he or she is doing something wrong from a christian point of view if he or she is in a homosexual relationship”. The loss of faithful in Finland is not only a spiritual question. The estimated cost of this loss of souls to the Finnish Church amounts to almost 7 million euros since the Church is a state church and is financed through a special tax.

From YLE.fi:

Archbishop Calls for Members to Stay

On Friday, Archbishop Kari Mäkinen said it was unfortunate and incredible that people were leaving the church on the issue of homosexuality. He hoped members would influence within the ranks of the church by expressing their opinions. So far, his advice has gone unheeded.

The Archbishop emphasised the church was far more diversified in accordance with Christian principles than the views expressed in some extreme statements by individuals.

Proposals for a law allowing gender neutral marriage have divided church ranks in Finland. Some clergy say the church might give up its right to solemnise marriages if such a law is enacted, while others take a more liberal approach on the issue.

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Mediawatch Politics

Religion and Family Values

“Homosexuality is contrary to religion and family values” according to the Serbian Right-Wing groups who attacked the Gay Pride march in central Belgrade earlier today. The Serbian Orthodox Church which stands for what the majority of what counts for religion in the area had condemned the organisation of the Gay Pride march although, to be fair, it had warned against violence against participants. The Gay Pride march had already been called off last year due to the threat of violence. Several hundred anti-gay protesters were quoted as saying “The hunt has begun. Death to homosexuals”.

“It is a shame for me to march, to stand for what I am, and to have thousands of cops protect me from hysteric [sic] nationalists,” lesbian activist Milena, 36, told Reuters. The BBC’s Mark Lowen says homosexuality is still largely a taboo in Serbia, a conservative and religious nation.

You’ve got to hand it to them. When religion and family values get down to work it turns out to be one hell of a party.

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Collaborate and Be Damned

Today’s Times will carry the news that “all those who “cooperate” in the introduction of divorce, including judges who apply the law, would be “committing a grave sin”, according to the head of the Church tribunals.” And they’re at it again. Before you get involved into some giant backlash of church vs state, ceasar vs god, layman vs believer etc etc may I urge you to consider conversion. It’s not that difficult. The Lutheran church will admit you with a rebaptism. You will still be christian but without the cobwebs and barmy eejits behaving like latter day ayatollahs such as the head of the Church tribunals. It is after all matters such as these that instigated the great reformation by Luther. Consider it. Seriously. With a big enough rate of conversion I’m prepared to bet heavily that members of the church will suddenly revise its position on what constitutes grave sin.

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Mediawatch

Bondi+ on VAT

The season’s begun. TVM is orphaned of Dissett and we have Bondi’s program to follow the hot topics. We’ve kicked off with MaidGate and an analysis of Tonio Fenech‘s slip regarding his home help. Rachel’s running around interviewing the MPs as per usual – why not a direct line with the MP’s every week asking them the question of choice? While the balance of the story was straightforward and simple – the tradition of non-tax paying maids vs the strict letter of the law we could not help but noticing one glaring flaw in the program.

The guest list:

  • Joe Friggieri – philosophy teacher (ghalliem tal-filosofija)
  • Toni Abela – lawyer /labour Vici-Kap
  • Francis Zammit Dimech – lawyer/ PN MP
  • Chris Cutajar – opinjonistà

Now. This was a case that kept bringing into question the issue of taxes and tax payments. Would it have been too much to bring a tax lawyer/ tax advisor to clarify certain issues on the programme? Do we really have to hear the “minghalija” (if I am not mistaken) and politically biased legal assessments of the guests?

And finally will Toni Abela spare us the “xamma ta’ korruzzjoni” business for the future? He is unable to stand bz his own allegations. What next? Xummiemu the investigator?

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