The Times journalist wins heritage award

George Cini, The Times deputy editor (night), was yesterday presented with Din l-Art Helwa's award for heritage journalism, held for the first time this year as part of the organisation's 40th anniversary.

Mr Cini won the award with his series of articles on Strait Street. He was presented with a silver medal, a framed certificate and a cheque for Lm200 by President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.

Mr Cini donated the money back to Din l-Art Helwa and urged private companies to support heritage financially.

Martin Scicluna, chairman of the panel of judges, congratulated Mr Cini for "his meticulous research and study of Strait Street and the people that created this unique segment of historic Valletta in the early part of the last century.

"George Cini brought that part of our built heritage to life with his exciting and vivid series of well written and evocative articles - capturing a remarkable combination of social history and the built heritage's spirit of place.

"After reading his articles one came away convinced, more than ever, that Strait Street must be preserved and regenerated."

In presenting Mr Cini with his award, Dr Mifsud Bonnici recalled that when he served as Culture Minister he had a hard battle to fight for the heritage corner during the preparation of the budget. Cultural heritage, he said, was a little bit left behind in the priorities of governments.

He could very well appreciate the difficulties of any government. But heritage also benefited from the appreciation of the people at large and the voluntary work of many. Din l-Art Helwa, for example, was a voluntary organisation par excellence.

Mamo Tower, where the award ceremony was held, was a perfect example of the inability of the government and the ability of such an organisation to take proper care of the place. The 17th century tower was restored by Din l-Art Helwa in 1995.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said heritage needed journalism. Heritage had a value which was inestimable for it was only the black market that could establish a market price on heritage.

Heritage had to be brought to the attention of more and more people and it had been an excellent idea of Din l-Art Helwa to reward journalism. For heritage belonged to the people and the people had to take charge of it not only through public authorities but also directly.

He appealed to the media to help heritage and encourage more people to have an interest in heritage. "We have such a large heritage... It needs a lot of journalism."

Mr Scicluna urged editors to encourage their journalists not only to write campaigning articles on the built cultural heritage but also to encourage them to enter for the award in the years to come, starting in 2006.

He said that 12 entries of a generally high standard were received from six journalists or newspaper contributors.

Daniella Attard Bezzina, Lino Bugeja and Astrid Vella were each awarded a diploma.

Ms Attard Bezzina was given the diploma for weekly features in l-orizzont encouraging a predominantly Maltese readership to cherish their outstanding cultural heritage.

Mr Bugeja wrote a colourful dissertation on the troglodyte churches of Rabat, in which he highlighted the risks of vandalism at these sites and the apparent lack of interest in safeguarding them by the authorities.

Ms Vella wrote an in-depth article on the restoration of Sarria church, highlighting the value of restoration, its techniques and the importance of properly conserving our built heritage.

The judges, Mr Scicluna said, would have liked to have seen more of these and more campaigning articles not only celebrating the rich history and culture of Malta's built heritage but also the urgent need to protect, cherish and safeguard it.

"For example, we missed not finding any entrants covering Fort St Elmo or Fort St Angelo, both of which are deserving of hard-hitting written campaigns. But, that said, what we got was indeed exciting and worthy of congratulation."

The award was sponsored by the Tumas Fenech Foundation for Journalism and the Institute of Maltese Journalism.