Malta

[MT] Consultation Document Proposing Guidelines on Quality Programmes

IRIS 2008-7:1/28

Kevin Aquilina

Faculty of Laws, University of Malta

In March 2006, Ernst & Young Limited submitted a report to the Media Desk within the EU Affairs Directorate of the then Ministry for Tourism and Culture, which consisted of an analysis of focus group discussions on quality programming. The report lists a number of themes, which participants mentioned as being essential for good quality programming. The comments of participants are summarised under each theme.

Based on this report, the Broadcasting Authority drew up a set of draft Guidelines for good quality programming and issued this draft for public consultation purposes in April 2008.

Essentially the Consultation Document Proposing Guidelines on Quality Programming identifies the following characteristics of a quality programme: a quality programme must have interesting topics and be informative and educational; it must be fair and balanced, as well as original; a quality programme is realistic and can also be humorous and witty; it has sound values, a good script, a good presenter, good camera work, light and sound; a good quality programme should not have any advertisements and should not be “stretched out”; it should respect people and, finally; it should have an informed panel.

These characteristics are, in turn, elaborated upon in the consultation document. The consultation period came to an end on 30 May 2008.