Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/789855
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2017 News 7 'Hands off protection of journalists' sources,' IGM warns ministers PAUL COCKS THE right to protect one's sources was sacrosanct and should not be curtailed in any way and for no reason, the chair- man of the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) warned min- isters yesterday evening. Karl Wright and other IGM representatives met with Edu- cation Minister Evarist Bar- tolo and Justice Minister Owen Bonnici to discuss the proposed Media and Defamation Act, launched by government two weeks ago. Wright said that the bill – on the whole – was an improve- ment on existing legislation, particularly through the re- moval of criminal libel and the introduction of mediation. "But some issue have inevi- tably been raised, particularly with reference to the registra- tion of online editors and the protection of sources," he said. "We therefore call on the min- isters to set up a Q and A ses- sion with all willing journal- ists to discuss all the questions needing further clarification." Wright said that the issue of press accreditation needed fur- ther discussion as it would be beneficial to set in place a cred- ible and accountable structure which could also cover, and solve, resistance to the idea of registering online editors. Evarist Bartolo and Owen Bonnici reiterated govern- ment's commitment to safe- guarding freedom of expression "The higher fines proposed have also generated much dis- cussion," he said. "And if there is one thing we insist should not be curtailed is the right of the journalist to protect his source." Bartolo said that the role of the media in the scrutiny of public life was crucial and the government was committed to ensure that freedom of expres- sion and journalists' right to protect their sources remain unaffected by the new legisla- tion. "The media needs to regulate itself further, possibly under a press ombudsman who would mediate confrontations before libel cases are filed in court," he said. Bonnici said the government felt the bill was extremely im- portant and positive because it protected and broadened free- dom of expression. "Some new recommendations included in the bill, such as the repeal of criminal libel, confirm this," he said. "Other clauses were added to protect people whose reputation might be harmed by the media, thus the reason for increasing the maxi- mum amount liable if found guilty of libel to €20,000." Bonnici noted that the bill in- troduced, for the first time, the element of slander – insulting or maligning someone verbally, as opposed to doing it through print or broadcast media. "As to the registration of on- line editors, this was solely in- tended to ref lect what happens with print and broadcast media where each editor is officially registered," he said. "This reg- istration would only affect only news portals, and it would be the editors who would need to be registered, not the websites themselves." Evarist Bartolo and Owen Bonnici (centre) reiterated government's commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression