The other eight awards have all been confirmed this year, together with their respective sponsors, MJA project team coordinator Mario Schiavone told a press conference at the IGM offices in Valletta.
These awards are usually held to coincide with the World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, but this year’s regulations were announced later for two particular reasons.
The IGM had to go through the change of name with all the consequences this brings with it and Maltese journalists had to focus on another major event this year, the European Parliament election campaign.
The MJA are open to all journalists in Malta and Gozo, whether they are members of the IGM or not, who during the year 2003 have striven to improve the standard of journalism in Malta.
All entries, whether in Maltese or in English, must have been published or broadcast in Malta between 1 January and 31 December 2003.
Apart from the journalist himself/herself, editors and heads of News Departments may select and submit entries of what they consider to be the best work of their respective individual journalist/s.
Submissions can also be forwarded by organisations, corporations and bodies.
The categories together with the respective sponsors are:
Print Journalism: HSBC Bank Malta plc
Press Photography: The Farsons Foundation
Press Cartoons: Malta International Airport
e-Journalism: HP
Sport Journalism: Michele Peresso Ltd
Broadcast Script Journalism: Broadcasting Authority
Broadcast Film Journalism: Broadcasting Authority
Travel Journalism: Emirates Airlines (new category)
Il-Lingwa Nazzjonali fil-Gurnalizmu: Akkademja tal-Malti (and supported by the Ministry of Education)
Gold Award: BPC
Fondazzjoni Tumas Fenech ghall-Edukazzjoni fil-Gurnalizmu will also be sponsoring part of the prizes in all submission categories.
Mr Schiavone said that if there is a satisfactory level of entries from both radio and television journalists in the broadcast script category, the IGM might decide to give separate awards for radio and television respectively.
Each entry should consist of three submissions (each dealing with a different subject) participating in the same category.
All journalists participate as individuals, except in the Sports Journalism Category.
Sports journalists in Malta can submit their respective print, radio or television entries in this category.
Entries in all categories must be handed in to the MJA Secretariat, Institute of Maltese Journalists, 104 Old Mint Street, Valletta on 24 or 25 June between 6pm and 7.30pm.
Regulations and applications may be obtained either from the Institute of Maltese Journalists, PO Box 21, GPO Marsa or from the website: www.maltapressclub.org.mt as from Monday.
For the first time, certificates will be awarded to the first, second and third placed in each category.
The winners will each be awarded the following prizes:
A cash prize of Lm150; a Lm50 book voucher sponsored by Fondazzjoni Tumas Fenech ghall-Edukazzjoni fil-Gurnalizmu; a Lm70 voucher sponsored by Michele Peresso, operators of Eurosport; and the Malta Journalism Awards trophy, designed by Maltese artist Luciano Micallef, for that respective category.
The winner of the special category entitled Il-Lingwa Maltija fil-Gurnalizmu will be presented with the Malta Journalism Award trophy for that category.
During the press conference, the IGM also launched the seventh Gold Award.
The aim of the Gold Award is to honour in their lifetime those who have made more than a significant contribution to journalism through a lifelong commitment which goes beyond the call of normal journalistic duty.
The closing date for Gold Award nominations is Friday, 27 August 2004 so that more time will be available to submit the researched material needed to support each nomination.