Updated: PBS calls for resignation of BA chairman

Public Broadcasting Services this evening called for the resignation of Broadcasting Authority chairman Twanny Tabone. Its call came shortly after the authority issued a statement accusing the station of not being impartial. In its statement, the BA said that in recent weeks it noted several instances of a lack of impartiality by PBS, both in content and news selection, and would be writing formally to the station highlighting these instances. The BA said that in the past months, it held several formal and informal meetings with PBS to discuss aspects that preoccupied it. It said it believed that, as regulator, it had to keep such contact to lead PBS to produce a news bulletin deserving of a national station. The BA said it noted that its preoccupations were sometimes addressed and this strengthened its belief that dialogue was the best way to eliminating certain shortcomings. However, in the past weeks, it noted several instances of partiality so it decided to warn the station and request it to immediately rectify shortcoming for the principles of impartiality and fair treatment to be ensured, especially during an election campaign. It ordered the station to read its statement...