Social media, press ethics, sports journalism and the lessons learnt from the fallout of Rupert Murdoch will be discussed during a three-day conference of the Commonwealth Journalists Association.

Are today’s sports journalists equipped well enough to deal with prominent off-the-field issues?

The CJA’s triennial conference at the Radisson Blu Resort, St Julians, will bring over an array of international journalists and Commonwealth experts between Monday and February 2.

Journalists in many Commonwealth countries are subject to unprecedented levels of violence and draconian media laws that restrict their ability to produce fair and balanced reporting.

Leading journalists and civil rights representatives from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and sub-Saharan Africa will be sharing their experiences.

Technological change and its impact on journalism throughout the world will dominate the first day of the conference with Stephen Quinn, digital development editor of the South China Morning Post, being the first guest speaker.

As an academic, Dr Quinn has been on the leading edge of communications technology and is pioneering major innovations at the Morning Post.

Scandals involving FIFA and international cricket have dominated headlines for more than a year. In one of the panels, dealing with sports journalism and scandal, participants will ask the question whether today’s sports journalists are sufficiently equipped to deal with these increasingly prominent off-the-field issues.

The CJA conference will also hear presentations from senior members of the Commonwealth Secretariat and Canada’s envoy to the Commonwealth, Senator Hugh Segal, on the future of the Commonwealth.

Other participants include the Speaker of the House of Representatives Michael Frendo, and a mix of international and Maltese speakers. Culture Minister Mario de Marco opens the conference on Monday at 9 a.m.

For information contact Rita Payne, CJA-UK at Radisson Blue Resort.