Three years after Investments Minister Austin Gatt reformed the PBS newsroom from 14 journalists down to seven journalists and two coordinators, it’s back to square one after the public broadcaster has decided to employ five more employees in the newsroom.

PBS Chief Executive Albert Debono confirmed to MaltaToday PBS will be employing three journalists, an intake editor and an archivist. The three journalists and archivist will be non-managerial grades, while the intake editor will have a managerial grade.

He would not commit himself when asked whether PBS had taken this decision because the newsroom at present cannot cope with its workload, or in view of forthcoming events like the next general election.

“Change management and process improvement is an ongoing process and is not something cast in stone. Over three years have passed since the restructuring exercise and the board of directors and management now feel this fine-tuning is required,” Debono said.

However, asked about the matter, GWU Services’ and Media Section Secretary Cory Greenland, which represents PBS employees, told MaltaToday that “during the negotiations of the last collective agreement, the GWU had identified that PBS needed more staff than it actually retained in the restructuring process to be able to operate fully”.

Greenland also complained that the GWU had “so far” not been consulted by PBS management about the employment of new workers at the public broadcaster.

“However, the union immediately requested a meeting with management when members approached with the concern. The meeting was granted. One must keep in mind the collective agreement also went hand in hand with restructuring and, in the end, the human resources necessary to staff PBS, along with various other matters,” he said.

PBS journalists are often seen rushing from one news conference to another in an effort to cope with the additional workload which has been thrust on them since the restructuring took place three years ago.

The total number of employees was brought down from 178 to 64, while production of television and radio programmes has been farmed out to external producers. Only the news and sports bulletins on TVM and Radio Malta have remained in the hands of PBS.

Another controversial issue is how the new vacancies will be filled.

Under the collective agreement signed between the GWU and government on 24 April 2004, those former PBS employees who did not opt for early retirement and were re-assigned with another government department or entity have to be given first preference for any vacancies in non-managerial grades if they fulfil the requirements.

Asked whether PBS will be giving preference to these former employees when filling the non-managerial vacancies, Debono said vaguely: “PBS will make the best available choices within the parameters of the collective agreement.”

On his part, Greenland said that “as always, the GWU will ensure the best interests of employees. This includes PBS employees redeployed and currently working with other entities. After the upcoming meeting with management, when full and proper information will be available, appropriate meetings will be held with employees wherever applicable to adopt a position.”

Of the 14 journalists who worked at the PBS newsroom until the restructuring took place, only three have remained – Ruth Amaira and Peter Cossai as News Coordinators, and Reno Bugeja as a journalist.

Another employee, Tony Dimech, who worked as a video editor, was also employed as a journalist after the restructuring.

Six of those who opted to go – former news manager Paul Azzopardi, Anna Bonanno, Victor Grech, Antoinette Cassar, Alfred Musu’ and Emanuel Zammit – were re-deployed with the government while the remaining five – Ivan Camilleri, Sue Mercieca, Tony Gaffiero, Nathalie Attard and Leonard Callus – took early retirement.

As a result, PBS had to employ five new journalists: Daphne Cassar, Mario Micallef, Kevin Papargiourcopulo, Antonia Micallef, Norma Saliba and Sylvana Cristina as the new News Manager.

czahra@mediatoday.com.mt

Related link:
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/ 2007/06/24/t5.html