Emirates sponsors new journalism award category

Emirates airline is sponsoring a new Malta Journalism Award (MJA) category - the Best Overseas Assignment Award - in this year's edition of the MJA, organised by the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM).

The finalists of the Best Overseas Assignment in the 16th edition of the MJA are: Julia Farrugia, together with Joe Cachia, Joseph Fava, Pablo Micallef and Charles Ahar (from Super 1); George Scicluna, together with Marion Zammit and Alvin Scicluna (from TVM); and Doris Zammit (from TVM).

The winner of the Best Overseas Assignment category will be announced during the awards presentation ceremony to be held next month.

The Best Overseas Assignment category recognises the best examples of foreign reportage by Malta's journalists abroad. The winner will be presented with the category trophy, designed by a Maltese artist, a Lm150 cash prize, as well as two Emirates return business class tickets to Dubai, including three nights' accommodation in a four-star hotel.

Speaking about the guidelines, Malcolm J. Naudi, IGM chairman, said that entries are judged on the quality of research, writing style, quality of content and overall presentation.

The IGM has made some changes in this year's award categories, based on recommendations made by a commission that evaluated both the organisation of these awards and the judging reports of recent editions.

He said: "Our decision to introduce this new category is to recognise the excellence and innovation of coverage by Maltese journalists on foreign assignments. Emirates, being one of the world's most innovative airlines, as well as one of the great business success stories of our time, were immediately interested in supporting this new category."

Paul Fleri Soler, Emirates' manager for Malta and Cyprus, said: "Malta is the first country where Emirates sponsors a journalism award. These awards support Malta's national institute of journalists' drive to further improve quality, and recognise outstanding journalists for their hard work and professionalism. We are proud to have been supporting the IGM in these awards since 2004."

Emirates started operating flights from Malta to Dubai in March 1998. As of last month, the airline has been flying five times weekly between Dubai and Malta via Larnaca, Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, using an Airbus A330-200.

Today, Emirates has 85 destinations in 55 countries and has a fleet of over 90 aircraft. On average, Emirates is receiving a new aircraft every month and, by 2012, it will be the world's largest long-haul airline.