Because News Bulletins aren't just about news, are they?

Given that we can't always rely on what we hear at cafes, we feel compelled to methodically follow the news. You know, when you're teaching people coming from all over the world, you truly need to stay au courant, because the slightest slip will make you look like an alien in that classroom.

Anyhow, it's easy you'll tell us. Just grab your iPads and have a look through The Guardian.

Technically you're right. True.

Yet, nothing beats the fun of actually tuning in to the local news broadcasts.

We've got Super One, which give Dan Brown a run for his money when it comes to intricate plots.

Then we've got Net TV, which tries to push forward the idea that Malta is in reality the equivalent to Heaven on Earth.

Finally we've got TVM. The latter is arguably (read: indisputably) the best, even though it sometimes concentrates on unimportant stories, thus dedicating less time to other more newsworthy stories.


We know there are others - but we don't bother with Romina's channel. Quite frankly, the amount of hairspray holding her humungous buns together deserves a news bulletin in its own right - yes, Romina, thanks to you the poles are suffering.

What superb reportage - (Kurt Farrugia [PL's Director of Communication] live reporting from France the other day was anything but) - these channels can take pride in isn't really the gist of this blogpost. That deserves some serious research - the professors at the Communications' centre at UoM can't be ecstatic.

Have you ever really looked at the newscasters while watching the news? They're fascinating, aren't they? Many of those (as opposed to 'everyone', because these days you've got to explain even the tiniest of nuances) reading out the news on Net TV seem to be really wretched - as if next to the camera they had a gun pointed at them. Smile more, come on! Besides, what's with the attire? All in all, the impression you get is that things are really dull - and that's certainly not what you want your audience to think. Get some color going on - newscasters mustn't (only) wear boring colours and suits which are at least 3 sizes bigger.

Super One's? Oh, the requisite here is something very different. The newscasters are to announce the news as if that were the last thing they'll say before that blessed meteorite hits planet earth. So yes, they have to sound as melodramatic as possible - and at times, girls and boys alike, must come across as ferocious tigers. (In fact, Qormi's mayor Rosianne excels at this.) Also, we know that red is the colour for the political party they are representing - but really, do they have to wear something red whenever they're on?

TVM... There isn't - thankfully - much to say here. The newscasters are, more often than not, adequately dressed and pretty eloquent in their speech. That's unless it's a certain Daphne Cassar's shift. If that happens, alas, there's no other solution but to switch your goggle-box off. However, yes, standards on the national broadcaster are indeed higher - and it couldn't be any other way.

Oh well, after a long day of work you do need your fair share of entertainment, so that may be the reason why they have it that way.