BELIEVE ME, FROM ALL COUNTRIES I’VE ALREADY
VISITED, MALTA GAINED THE DEEPEST PLACE IN MY HEART
These were the remarks
of Dana Kovalova, Czech
News Agency Editor, one of the 74 journalists who came over to
Malta to report on the 8th March Referendum. Ms Kovalova
continues: "during my visit, I mostly preferred to be in streets
talking to people. Your wonderful island and warm and sincere people
made my stay there absolutely unforgettable. All people in the
Department of Information and Press Centre alike were very helpful and
provided me all kind of information I needed. Moreover, I am really glad
to admit that the fact-sheets about Malta's referendum were perfect and
comprehensive. Now I am trying to persuade my director to assign me to
Malta again as I think that your general elections will be the same
interesting issue like your referendum."
The Referendum attracted the attention of no less
than 38 foreign media organisations consisting of 13 TV Stations, 6
Radio Stations and 19 News Agencies together with the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU). Along with the local media, foreign
correspondents, cameramen and technicians made use of the facilities
which were available at the Press Centre at the Ta' Qali Counting
Complex. The Centre was set up by the Department of Information in
coordination with the Electoral Commission. DOI asked the visiting
foreign media to give their views on the level of service offered at the
Press Centre. They were also invited to comment on any other aspect
relating to their stay in Malta. These are extracts taken from some of
the messages received.
Ingrid Hedstrom - Dagens Nyheter (Sweden): I
found the DOI officials on duty at the Press Centre generally very
helpful and serviceminded, and I was especially pleased that they
managed to organise transportation to the Prime Minister’s press
conference in Valletta at such short notice. It was a problem that the
mobile phone system jammed completely at the crucial moment when the
first projection was reported. However, DOI officials were most helpful
in providing a phone card for a brief call to my home desk. One remark
that doesn´t actually touch on the Press Centre. I found it quite
annoying that journalists weren't allowed to go into the polling
stations and talk to people directly outside. Being barred from polling
stations was a totally new experience for me as a journalist.
Oliver
Meiler - Tages-Anzeiger (Switzerland): DOI hosted us in an
impeccable manner at the Press Centre in Ta Qali on the referendum’s
counting day, providing us not only wide technical support but also
helped us understand the meaning of the two leaders’ press statements
in Maltese. The DOI's Homepage was of big help and now a steady
favourite in my internet-addresses.
Sara
Alonso - EBU News Producer: On behalf of EBU/Eurovision News
Operations, we would like to thank the Department of Information for the
help afforded us, which enabled the joint EBU-PBS operation in Malta
during the 8th of March Referendum to run smoothly and successfully. All
broadcasters covering this event were very happy both for the PBS
coverage and the facilities provided by DOI. I'd like to mention
especially the DOI team of people whose kindness and disponibility made
our work a real pleasure. We look forward to be back in Malta in the
near future.
Henrik Samuelsson - Swedish Television/ Headline: Thanks
for the excellent work of your staff. They were very helpful and
professional. The only issue they could not help us with was the fact
that we were not allowed to film ordinary citizens in a voting station,
which is the common standard in EU and the rest of the world.
Frank
Rossavik - Bergens Tidende (Norway): I enjoyed my stay in Malta very
much. My photographer and I had forgotten to apply for accreditation in
advance, but the DOI personnel were very understanding and service
minded and they fixed the accreditation anyhow. I would also like to
thank you for the extensive and helpful press kits that were handed out.
Frances
D'Emilio - Associated Press (AP): Your staff at the press center was
very gracious despite the frustrations of having to wait a long time for
the official results, and I look forward to returning for future
election coverage. I do have one important technical suggestion. You
might wish to consider, in setting up for the April 12 elections, a land
line system for filing stories in such a way that the correspondent can
directly file, without being interrupted by an intermediate signal.
Thomas Goetz Berliner - Zeitung (Germany):
My visit to Malta was very fruitful and interesting. Thanks to
the help of your office it was easy to work for us. The facility in Ta
Qali was very well equipped and your computer-personnel helped us in
setting up the laptops. All together Malta was a very good trip.
Peter Sidler - Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland): My
stay in Malta was both fruitful as it was enjoyable. Your staff at the
Press Center was friendly, helpful and very professional. We were given
all assistance required fast and efficiently. It would be paradise for
us journalists if government information officials in other countries,
delivered the same kind of services DOI offered during the vote
counting.
Hugh
Chalker - Dorset Film & Television Productions (DFTV): I would
like to thank you and your staff for their kind help and co-operation.
We were very impressed with the security at the Counting Centre, a very
necessary precaution in the dangerous world in which we live. The Press
facilities were very good and certainly better than facilities we get in
Britain at General Elections.
Beata Plomecka
- Polish Radio: As far as the Press Centre organised during the
referendum, I have to admit, that I was impressed by the brilliant
organisation. The Department of Information officials were really helpful.
I remember that they helped me to get back to Ta' Qali from La Valetta,
after the press conference of the Maltese Prime Minister. It was
especially important for me as I had the live-broadcasting for the
Polish Television.
These were the remarks
of Dana Kovalova, Czech
News Agency Editor, one of the 74 journalists who came over to
Malta to report on the 8th March Referendum. Ms Kovalova
continues: "during my visit, I mostly preferred to be in streets
talking to people. Your wonderful island and warm and sincere people
made my stay there absolutely unforgettable. All people in the
Department of Information and Press Centre alike were very helpful and
provided me all kind of information I needed. Moreover, I am really glad
to admit that the fact-sheets about Malta's referendum were perfect and
comprehensive. Now I am trying to persuade my director to assign me to
Malta again as I think that your general elections will be the same
interesting issue like your referendum."
Ingrid Hedstrom - Dagens Nyheter (Sweden): I
found the DOI officials on duty at the Press Centre generally very
helpful and serviceminded, and I was especially pleased that they
managed to organise transportation to the Prime Minister’s press
conference in Valletta at such short notice. It was a problem that the
mobile phone system jammed completely at the crucial moment when the
first projection was reported. However, DOI officials were most helpful
in providing a phone card for a brief call to my home desk. One remark
that doesn´t actually touch on the Press Centre. I found it quite
annoying that journalists weren't allowed to go into the polling
stations and talk to people directly outside. Being barred from polling
stations was a totally new experience for me as a journalist.
Oliver
Meiler - Tages-Anzeiger (Switzerland): DOI hosted us in an
impeccable manner at the Press Centre in Ta Qali on the referendum’s
counting day, providing us not only wide technical support but also
helped us understand the meaning of the two leaders’ press statements
in Maltese. The DOI's Homepage was of big help and now a steady
favourite in my internet-addresses.
Sara
Alonso - EBU News Producer: On behalf of EBU/Eurovision News
Operations, we would like to thank the Department of Information for the
help afforded us, which enabled the joint EBU-PBS operation in Malta
during the 8th of March Referendum to run smoothly and successfully. All
broadcasters covering this event were very happy both for the PBS
coverage and the facilities provided by DOI. I'd like to mention
especially the DOI team of people whose kindness and disponibility made
our work a real pleasure. We look forward to be back in Malta in the
near future.
Henrik Samuelsson - Swedish Television/ Headline: Thanks
for the excellent work of your staff. They were very helpful and
professional. The only issue they could not help us with was the fact
that we were not allowed to film ordinary citizens in a voting station,
which is the common standard in EU and the rest of the world.
Frank
Rossavik - Bergens Tidende (Norway): I enjoyed my stay in Malta very
much. My photographer and I had forgotten to apply for accreditation in
advance, but the DOI personnel were very understanding and service
minded and they fixed the accreditation anyhow. I would also like to
thank you for the extensive and helpful press kits that were handed out.
Frances
D'Emilio - Associated Press (AP): Your staff at the press center was
very gracious despite the frustrations of having to wait a long time for
the official results, and I look forward to returning for future
election coverage. I do have one important technical suggestion. You
might wish to consider, in setting up for the April 12 elections, a land
line system for filing stories in such a way that the correspondent can
directly file, without being interrupted by an intermediate signal.
Thomas Goetz Berliner - Zeitung (Germany):
My visit to Malta was very fruitful and interesting. Thanks to
the help of your office it was easy to work for us. The facility in Ta
Qali was very well equipped and your computer-personnel helped us in
setting up the laptops. All together Malta was a very good trip.
Peter Sidler - Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland): My
stay in Malta was both fruitful as it was enjoyable. Your staff at the
Press Center was friendly, helpful and very professional. We were given
all assistance required fast and efficiently. It would be paradise for
us journalists if government information officials in other countries,
delivered the same kind of services DOI offered during the vote
counting.
Hugh
Chalker - Dorset Film & Television Productions (DFTV): I would
like to thank you and your staff for their kind help and co-operation.
We were very impressed with the security at the Counting Centre, a very
necessary precaution in the dangerous world in which we live. The Press
facilities were very good and certainly better than facilities we get in
Britain at General Elections.
Beata Plomecka
- Polish Radio: As far as the Press Centre organised during the
referendum, I have to admit, that I was impressed by the brilliant
organisation. The Department of Information officials were really helpful.
I remember that they helped me to get back to Ta' Qali from La Valetta,
after the press conference of the Maltese Prime Minister. It was
especially important for me as I had the live-broadcasting for the
Polish Television.