Freelance journalist Caroline Muscat recently won the national prize in the European competition ‘For Diversity. Against Discrimination’ for her article on irregular immigrants in Malta.

The winning piece, entitled Between the Rock and a Hard Place and published in The Malta Independent, looked into the humanitarian aspects of migrants, particularly in the labour market.

It will now be representing Malta abroad in the second level of the EU Journalist Award 2010, which honours journalists who contribute to a better understanding of the benefits of diversity and the fight against discrimination.

Second place was given to Rosemarie Dorekens’s article, Id-Diversita` mhix Għażla imma Realta` (Diversity is not a Choice but a Reality), and third to David Vella’s article Christian’s Lessons – Setting Disability Aside to Become a School Teacher.

An independent jury, who chose the winner from 15 submissions, was composed of editorial consultant Laurence Grech, lawyer and The Sunday Times opinion columnist Dr Claire Bonello, Malta Today deputy editor Matthew Vella, National Commission for the Promotion of Equality communications and PR officer Maria Theresa Portelli, and Dr Angelo Chetcuti, press officer at the European Commission representation office.

A European jury will select the overall winner of the competition.