Malta Journalism Awards finalists announced

The finalists of the 16th edition of the Institute of Maltese Journalists' Malta Journalism Awards were announced at Villa Parisio in Lija yesterday. The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Print Journalism - News - sponsored by HSBC Bank Malta plc. Roderick James Agius (Il-Mument and In-Nazzjon); Lino Bugeja (The Times); Victor Vella (l-orizzont)

Print Journalism - Features - sponsored by Vodafone Malta Ltd. Martin Debattista (The Times); Vanessa Macdonald (The Times and The Sunday Times); Brandon Pisani (l-orizzont)

Photo Journalism - sponsored by The Farsons Foundation. Rene Rossignaud (The Malta Independent and The Times); Chris Sant Fournier (The Times); Darrin Zammit Lupi (The Times/Reuters)

Overseas Assignments (new category) - sponsored by Emirates Airline. Julia Farrugia, Joe Cachia, Joseph Fava, Pablo Micallef and Charles Ahar (Super 1); George Scicluna, Marion Zammit and Alvin Scicluna (TVM); Doris Zammit (TVM)

Broadcast Journalism - TV Script - sponsored by the Broadcasting Authority. Julia Farrugia and Joe Cachia (Super 1); Mario Micallef (TVM); Doris Zammit (TVM)

Broadcast Journalism - TV Film - sponsored by the Broadcasting Authority. Marco Micallef (Super 1); Clayton Tanti (Net TV); Tracci Team (Super 1)

Cultural Journalism - sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority. Lino Bugeja (The Sunday Times); Robert Micallef (maltamedia.com with blog); Alvin Scicluna (TVM)

Broadcast Journalism - Radio (new category) - sponsored by the Broadcasting Authority. No finalists

Sports Journalism - sponsored by Michele Peresso Ltd, operators of Eurosport. Charles Camenzuli (Net TV)

Sports Photo Journalism - sponsored by Malta International Airport. Domenic Aquilina (eufa direct/The Technician); Darrin Zammit Lupi (The Times)

E-Journalism - sponsored by Hewlett-Packard. Domenic Aquilina (eufa.com); Mona Farrugia (planetmona.com); Robert Micallef (maltamedia.com with blog)

This year's edition of the Gold Award is being sponsored by the Tumas Fenech Foundation for Education in Journalism.

"The institute is not particularly happy with the level of participation in the TV Film category. For this edition we are expecting a higher level of participation by cameramen to convince us to retain this category for next year," IGM chairman Malcolm J. Naudi said.

As participation in the Press Cartoons category was repeatedly low in recent years, the IGM Council decided to start holding this event on a triennial basis, with the next edition of this category being held in 2008, covering the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

However, being a non-competing category, caricaturists or their editors can submit up to 15 caricatures per caricaturist to be considered for an annual publication to be released next year.

The first three classified in each category will receive a certificate. In those categories with only one finalist, it may decided that no award will be given.

The winner of the first 10 categories will each be awarded: a) a cash prize of Lm150; b) a voucher sponsored by Michele Peresso for sports journalism; and c) the Malta Journalism Awards trophy for the respective category.

The winner of the special category entitled Il-Lingwa Nazzjonali fil-Gurnalizmu will be presented with the Malta Journalism Award trophy for that category.

The winners will be announced at a presentation ceremony to be held in November at the Audiovision Studios, in Hamrun, courtesy of BPC International.