S.L. 350.19 Art. 1

Introduction 1.1 These Requirements as to Standards and Practice have been made by the Broadcasting Authority in virtue of article 20(3) of the Broadcasting Act, Chapter 350 of the Laws of Malta. 1.2 The Broadcasting Authority corroborates that phone-ins in programmes broadcasted on all media are greatly contributing towards public opinion, and in this context one can declare that broadcasting media are serving democracy and advancing the opportunity for opinion expression by the general public. These types of programmes are therefore important in the contribution towards the exercise of free expression according to article 11(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act. 1.3 On the other hand, every right brings about certain obligations, and although in cases where political expression is concerned there should be greater tolerance to opinions that in the terms expressed by the European Court of Human Rights "offend, shock and disturb", there are always those cases where the same right of expression has to be controlled. In this context article 13(2)(a) of the Broadcasting Act provides that the Authority shall prevent from the inclusion in programme s that offend: "good taste or decency or is likely to encourage or incite to crime or to lead to disorder or to be offensive to public feeling.".