The pursuit of objective journalism

My, my, how touchy we are when things are not looking good for the party we militate in. My last effort a fortnight ago must have really upset rather badly two of this paper's regular opinion writers - namely Salvu Felice Pace and Eddie Aquilina - not to mention Her Master's Voice, Josephine Vassallo, who wrote a letter to the editor from Castille.

They all sallied forth with no holds barred. Was it my column that triggered their reaction or was it maybe because of the many comments being targeted at the party in government from ex-stalwarts of the Nationalist Party like Carmel Cacopardo, Jo Said and Michael Woods - to mention just three out of the many disgruntled party followers.

Ms Vassallo, communications officer and press secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, wrote: "It is only fair to ask the reason behind the fabrications in Mr Hamilton's article".

I would perhaps, with Ms Vassallo's permission, reword that phrase in this way: "It is only fair to ask why accuse Mr Hamilton of fabrications in his article".

Ms Vassallo, who at the time was probably still employed with Standard Publications or very possibly was away from the island, cannot maybe recall the circumstances surrounding the publication of the eight-year-old press releases regarding Eddie Fenech Adami's bill of health.

She may not recall the low-profile coverage dedicated to those releases by the media acting as government surrogates who toned the news down, drowning it in the swirling spin of other news items. I am, of course, referring to the operation that was carried out in the US.

Furthermore, the media avoided prying into details regarding Dr Fenech Adami's malady. No opinion writer in the pro-PN English language press asked whether the Prime Minister was strong and healthy enough to hold on to his post.

There was no Bondìplus TV programme (or whatever it was called then) querying the Prime Minister's health. Hence the secrecy! This attitude was not questioned by the opposition TV and radio which concurred on the respectful stance due to the Prime Minister's person. I myself purposely avoided the subject on my regular television programme. In sharp contrast was the treatment meted out to Alfred Sant who is still Leader of the Opposition and not yet Prime Minister.

This proved to be an uninterrupted continuation of the smear campaign that had been launched by the manipulated and self-indulgent anti-Labour media. It is ironical or, perhaps, only natural that the same media is markedly touchy when any freelance commentator like myself dares write anything that does not bear the blessings of the hidden hand operating in that smoke-filled backroom.

The country needs more objective journalism that goes beyond the requirements of hardcore politicians or opinion makers with a heavy agenda. Above all, the contest must be played out between the political parties and their respective programmes and not degenerate into a mud-slinging tussle between personalities. Let me put Mr Felice Pace's mind at rest: I am not suffering from amnesia and I do check my facts thoroughly before rushing into print.

Mr Aquilina takes us back to 1983-1987 when my brainchild seven-hour weekly marathon Sibtijiet Flimkien used to be aired live every Saturday on Xandir Malta (TVM). Yes, I am justifiably proud of this achievement because through it we managed to break the boycott ordered by the then Nationalist Party in opposition.

Many of the programme's co-presenters and contributors belonged to that party and disobeyed their party's directive as did so many advertisers who put their money and their trust in this programme which, week after week, attracted blanket audiences even though they knew that they would finish up in the shameful boycott list printed in the PN newspaper daily. (Oh, and by the way, despite the boycott, all those businesses survived).

These are the same people who condemned the Labour Party for boycotting the Xarabank programmes on TVM a few years ago! Truly a perfect example of people living in glasshouses being in no position to throw stones! A boycott is a boycott, is a boycott, is a boycott!

As far as Run Rabbit Run being played after the 1981 electoral result was announced, this, I state without any hesitation, was a despicable act. For many years, a few misguided diehards thought I had some sort of responsibility in this, something I categorically deny and will sue for libel anyone who alleges this - so don't even dare Mr Aquilina!

The people who moved into Castille in 1987 know exactly who the persons responsible were. Some are no longer with us while others were kept on at PBS until not very long ago.

Maybe this was one of the reasons why my then very pregnant wife and I were made scapegoats and suffered hardship and humiliation forcing us both to eventually resign from Xandir Malta. And all this with the full approval of the people who preached "national reconciliation" once returned to power. But all this is a different story which one day - not in the too distant future - I will publish and, rest assured, will turn quite a few peoples' faces red with shame.