I refer to the article by Fr Joe Borg titled ‘Political geese and journalistic gander’, carried in The Sunday Times of Malta (April 14). The following clarifications are in order:

The Tumas Fenech Foundation for Education in Journalism, although set up by the Tumas Group in conjunction with The Malta Press Club (today the Institute of Maltese Journalists), is fully autonomous, has a separate legal personality and is not run by the Tumas Group. The members of the Fenech family have, very laudably, always respected the independence of the board directing the foundation.

It is tendentious, and an error in logic, to associate the foundation with allegations concerning a family member simply because that person belongs to the family that set up the foundation, together with The Malta Press Club. Damning by association or innuendo is not ethically acceptable, and unsustainable in proper logical reasoning.

The foundation’s work since 2000 has been, exclusively, in the field of education in journalism. Many Maltese journalists have attended these activities and, we hope, benefited therefrom. The foundation has aimed at strengthening the commitment of Maltese journalists to truth, communicated with precision; to loyalty towards the public as also towards those about whom one passes information. There is also considerable emphasis laid on the avoidance of bad logic and deceptive association.

I believe that the good work hitherto performed by the foundation throughout these years should not be tarnished by association with allegations concerning a member of the family that had the merit of funding the foundation and which has continued to help, without in any way seeking to influence the decisions of the foundation’s board, over which I have had the honour of presiding, as well as preserving its independence.

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