Christmas is all about giving, and there appears to be a lot of it going on in the audio/visual media of late.

Last Sunday we had tangible proof of how donations to L-Istrina could stream in without anyone doing the equivalent of purchasing a lottery ticket. The auction sale of objects confiscated at the Malta International Airport, hosted by the brilliant Ray Calleja, did involve money - but the event was not based on a lottery where people with €50 to spend could split it up into the minimum amounts acceptable to chance on winning something.

Perhaps next year we could have the equivalent of bikers' convention meets Ħadd in-Nies, where each biker and cyclist would take a gift to the mustering place, and a giant jumble sale, where recycling and assistance would marry.

For the 14th consecutive year, RTK is conducting its annual fundraising campaign in aid of the Dar tal-Providenza, and the cream of local talent will be taking part in the marathon. Sonia Young, campaign co-coordinator, said: "We have always believed in the generosity of the Maltese people. There need be no prizes to be won; it's all about the satisfaction of giving. This has been our motto from day one, and the results bear it out. I believe that each and every one of us feels the spirit of Dar Tal-Providenza in our hearts. The support of the public is greatly appreciated."

The event will be broadcast live on RTK radio, with links to most local television stations. Donations may be made over the telephone. It is also worth mentioning that RTK is concomitantly running another campaign, in aid of needy families.

XFM is running a simple, fun competition with a prize being given away every day until Christmas Eve. There are rides on Segway gear, Monopoly Malta board games, Nestlé Quality Street hampers, camping equipment and free meals and weekend breaks at the Seabank Hotel. Participation is simple. A presenter will ask listeners to call and the first person to get through will be asked a question related to Christmas. The correct reply will 'open the door' on the XFM Advent Calendar (www.xfmmalta.com). It's that easy.

The phrase 'inconvenient truth' appears to have caught the public's imagination: it is being bandied by Thomas, Richard and Harold, as if there were no tomorrow.

Last week's Xarabank was probably the only one in its history that lived up to its name: for whenever I ride a bus, the conductor never makes any attempt to silence us, whatever the topic. However, most viewers were once again left with a lot of unanswered questions; it is a pity that the right of reply is being utilised through statements and counter-statements, rather than in the programme that engendered the need for them. Of course, everyone can proofread and edit happenings to reflect his own beliefs and often to give credence to untenable positions.

Again, I feel that some of the guests in the programme exemplified the adage that 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing' - and some of the statements uttered indicated that when one does research or gets other people to do it for him, the facts had better be correct, to save faces from being slathered with eggs.

At some point in the future, I would suggest that Xarabank picks up all the loose ends.

For some reason, Din L-Art Ħelwa has decided to call its top journalism prize Prix D'Honneur, rather than using a Maltese appellation. I know this is in line with international practice, and that the website says 'National Trust', but I cannot help making the observation, and also that the site could do with some updating.

Although there are lists of people on the council, the executive committee, the management team and the wardens, the spaces for telephone and fax numbers have been left empty, and one may only contact these people through a message or the general e-mail address.

Be that as it may, TVM (and possibly other stations too) broadcast the prize-giving ceremony for journalism. Alan Deidun won the award for natural heritage and Lino Bugeja won the diplomas for both that and built heritage journalism.

But I was struck by the fact that Fiona Vella, who is relatively new to journalism, and whose articles in It-Torċa always make riveting reading, clinched the built heritage journalism prize. I was doubly pleased because Ms Vella's winning article was an interview with Eman Bonnici, entitled 'Iċ -Ċimiterju b'Għajnejn Oħra' (A Different Look at The Cemetery). A ramble through the holy place elicited a wealth of information and history - and a plea to treat this place as the jewel it is.

Żmeraldi is looking to film cribs that are being exhibited in Malta, for inclusion in the Christmas special edition. For further information please visit the Facebook group page or e-mail zmeraldi@gozotv.com or visit www.gozotv.com/zmeralditeens.

television@timesofmalta.com