For the third consecutive year, HP is sponsoring the e-Journalism Award category of the 15th Malta Journalism Awards, organised by the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM). The e-Journalism Award rewards the work of Maltese news-based websites, which are becoming an increasingly important source of news for Maltese citizens, whether they are living in Malta, residing in another country or temporarily abroad. The winner will be presented with the category trophy designed by a Maltese artist and a cash prize of Lm150.

For this year’s edition of the awards, three new categories have been introduced, bringing the total number to 12. The awards’ finalists will be announced next Friday, and the winners will be presented with the Awards on Monday, 14 November.

“The Internet has become an increasingly important medium for many news organisations in Malta. Not only have we seen traditional newspapers launching online versions but a whole host of new websites, dedicated to news, have also sprung up. The IGM recognised the growing importance of this new medium and is grateful that HP, a company renowned for being on the cutting edge of new technology, has helped us to make this award a reality,” said Malcolm J. Naudi, IGM Chairman.

“As a leading information technology company which relies on the web for its external and internal communication and powers many popular websites, we appreciate that this category has been re-opened for this year’s edition of the Malta Journalism Awards. In a fast changing world online media are an important ‘real-time’ complement to the treasured printed editions,” commented Dr Alberto Caprara, Sales Manager, HP European Emerging Markets.

This e-Journalism Category in this year’s Malta Journalism Awards, as well as the other categories, are open to all journalists, irrespective of whether they are IGM members or not, who contributed work to Malta based websites during 2004.