Letters | Wednesday, 11 February 2009

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MaltaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan has riled the Institute of Maltese Journalists (Istitut tal-Ġurnalisti Maltin – IĠM) for failing to show solidarity after the newspaper was found guilty in a Maltese court and fined €7,000.
It is not the function of the IĠM to call into question court decisions. The IĠM has worked in the past to update legislation and introduce clauses to the Press Act that truly defend the rights and interests of all those in the media, foremost among them the journalists.
Mr Balzan is selective in his decision to attack one journalism body and to name three of its officials by name. Has MaltaToday received public support on this issue from any quarters?
The IĠM is constantly seeking to renew itself and is led by people who have long years of experience as working journalists. The Council is elected from among its members at the AGM and membership is open to all bona fide journalists, photographers and camerapersons.
As a former member, Mr Balzan knows this well. The Institute has come to the defence of members of the media in specific instances, particularly in cases of physical violence against journalists, and the policy is clear and unequivocal.
For instance, the IĠM had expressed solidarity with Mr Balzan when his front door was burned down in 2005 following reports on the rise of the far right in Malta and taking an editorial policy in favour of asylum seekers.
The IĠM will not be instrumentalised by the media itself, by the government or by the political parties. It will continue to voice its opinions in favour of press freedom and journalists’ rights in Malta as it deems fit.

Malcolm J Naudi et al
Chairman IGM

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