A number of ONE Productions journalists have opposed the decision of MLP leader Joseph Muscat to transfer the newsroom to Marsa. Led by Charlon Gouder and his junior entourage a substantial number of journalists signed a letter requesting the company not to implement such a move.
AT Present ONE newsroom operates from the Labour Party Headquarters in Hamrun but way back in August 1991 when Super One Radio started broadcasting the newsroom was anchored in Marsa. The newsroom was based there until 1995.
At that time Joseph Muscat was one of the promising journalists under the management of Evarist Bartolo then head of news.
The shifting of the newsroom back to Marsa irked a number of journalists including Charlon Gouder who immediately opposed the idea by signing a letter together with a number of close friends in the same unit.
Gouder’s behaviour had been previously brought to the attention of ONE Productions Administration. In the past years the journalist regularly ‘vanished’ from the newsroom and spent lengthy hours in the office of Jason Micallef, General Secretary of the Labour Party. Other journalists including new entrants Matthew Carbone and Jonathan Attard were trusted and involved in this inner circle and were present in numerous meeting in the same office.
The ties of Charlon Gouder and the junior journalists with Jason Micallef’s clan is an open secret and in the past years were considered as the group that always tried to play down the role of Michael Falzon then Deputy Leader of the MLP.
The newly appointed leader of the Party took immediate action on these manoeuvres and soon after his election, Joseph Muscat held a meeting with ONE journalists.
During this meeting Muscat hinted out “the newsroom might be transferred to Marsa.”
But shortly after this meeting ONE News staff were informed that as from January the journalists have to report in Marsa together with the rest of the radio and TV crew of ONE Productions.
MaltaToday can reveal that Joseph Muscat’s plan to transfer the newsroom to Marsa is fully backed by head of news Miriam Dalli.
However, this news immediately triggered the alarm of Charlon Gouder and his ‘young team’. In a letter signed from the bunch, there was the plea that the newsroom stays in Hamrun.
This letter was openly read and discussed about three weeks ago in a meeting held between ONE employees and Managerial Director Dr Michael Vella Haber.
The latter reportedly fuelled up interpreting certain wording of the letter as “arrogant”.
“It was the leader’s decision. It is backed by the Board of Directors and that the decision was final,” said an irate Vella Haber.
During the meeting Charlon Gouder initially resisted the idea but then had no option but give up his request.
The complaint letter by young journalists steamed up Head of News Miriam Dalli who openly claimed, “The young team she cocooned two years ago have ratted on her.” Only three senior journalists refrained from signing the letter. Ironically the same three were never considered as in Miriam Dalli’s inner circle.