Green Dot Malta sponsors new environmental journalism award - September 3, 2009

Green Dot Malta is to sponsor the new Environmental Journalism Award, the 13th award at next year's 20th Malta Journalism Awards, the Council of the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM) said this week.

Green Dot operates GreenPak, the leading waste recovery scheme in Malta approved by Mepa. Since 2006, GreenPak has diverted thousands of tonnes of waste away from landfills and towards recycling. In its latest annual report, GreenPak revealed that, for several consecutive years, it has met and surpassed Malta's national recycling targets.

Awarded to a Maltese journalist whose work is assessed as having most effectively communicated environmental issues to the public, the award is sponsored by Green Dot Malta.

"Environmental journalism is beginning to flourish in Malta and Green Dot Malta wants to encourage Maltese journalists to generate a greater public understanding and appreciation of contemporary environmental issues and developments," said Green Dot Malta managing director Mario Schembri. "More recently, we have noticed that the most successful environmental campaigns are those that also make economic and financial sense. Private-led initiatives, similar to GreenPak's scheme, have led most EU countries to achieve high recycling performance, and at no cost for the taxpayer."

IĠM chairman Malcolm J. Naudi explained that each portfolio submitted to award judges will be examined mainly for newsworthiness: timely work that adds to or encourages debate on current issues; and for impact - work that is noteworthy for its positive effect or influence in the community.

"The judging panel will also be instructed to base its considerations on other criteria, such as adherence to IĠM's code of ethics, creativity, and appropriateness of context," Mr Naudi pointed out.