Anti-discrimination journalist awarded

Julia Farrugia, the local winner of the EU's anti-discrimination journalist award 2006, was honoured by Joanna Drake, head of the European Commission Representation in Malta and the award jury.

Ms Farrugia's article Till Death Do Us Part was published in the newspaper Illum and deals with the topic of trans-sexuality. The jury selected her article to be the Maltese winner as she opened a proverbial door for this topic in the media. It will now be published in a book with other European winning articles.

For the fourth time this year, the award will honour journalists who, through their writing, create a better understanding of the benefits of diversity and encourage readers to fight discrimination.

It has become a fixture of the EU's wider campaign against discrimination and participant numbers have been increasing every year, with a record number of over 700 entries received last year.

Journalists writing about issues of diversity and discrimination have until September 30 to submit their work and be in with the chance of winning the EU Journalist Award 2007 and prizes.

The winner and the two runners-up, as well as the winner of the special award, will receive a grant for a research trip to an EU country of their choice, total value of prizes being €12,000. In addition, the winners will be invited to the awards' ceremony held in Brussels in December. For more details on the award and to submit articles, visit http://journalistaward.stop-discrimination.info.