The Institute of Maltese Journalists announced the names of the 29 finalists for this year’s Malta Journalism Awards on Wednesday night. The Malta Independent photojournalist Ben Borg Cardona is among the finalists.
The finalists of the 12 categories are:
• Print Journalism, sponsored by HSBC Bank Malta plc: Vanessa Macdonald (The Times), Brandon Pisani (l-orizzont / It-Torca), Victor Vella (l-orizzont / It-Torca).
• Print Journalism, Features, sponsored by Vodafone Malta Ltd: Martin Debattista (The Times - i-tech section), Vanessa Macdonald (The Times / Pink magazine), Joanna Ripard (The Sunday Times / Child magazine).
• Photographic Journalism, sponsored by The Farsons Foundation: Ben Borg Cardona (The Malta Independent / Le Figaro), Matthew Mirabelli (The Times), Darrin Zammit Lupi (The Times / Reuters).
• Overseas Assignments, sponsored by Emirates Airline: Brandon Pisani (It-Torca / l-orizzont), Alvin Scicluna (TVM).
• Broadcast Journalism, TV script, sponsored by the Broadcasting Authority: Reno Bugeja (TVM), Julia Farrugia (One Productions), Mario Micallef (TVM).
• Broadcast Journalism, TV Film, sponsored by the Broadcasting Authority: Alvin Scicluna (TVM), Trip Team (One Productions).
• Broadcast Journalism, Radio, sponsored by the Broadcasting Authority: Mario Micallef (Radju Malta), RTK, Charles Xuereb (Campus FM).
• Cultural Journalism, sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority: Lino Bugeja (The Sunday Times), Joyce Guillaumier (KullHadd), Alvin Scicluna (TVM).
• Sports Journalism, sponsored by Melita Cable: Mark Attard (Illum), Teddie Borg (TVM), Benny Pace (l-orizzont / The Times / Ir-Referi).
• Sports Photographic Journalism, sponsored by the Malta International Airport: Matthew Mirabelli (The Times), Darrin Zammit Lupi (The Times / The New York Times).
• In e-Journalism, sponsored by SmartCity Malta: Kurt Farrugia, Alfred Grixti & David Vella (maltastar. com), Pierre J. Mejlak (maltamedia.com).
The judging panel is drawing up a report about the submissions and the journalistic level achieved, which should be read at the presentation of the prizes. The names of the panel members will also be announced then.
The finalists and winner of the National Language in Journalism category will also be announced on the day of the prizes presentations. There are 25 participants in this category, submitting journalistic work in Maltese.
During the ceremony the Gold Award winner will also be announced – a person who, according to the jury panel, would have gone beyond the requisites of normal practice in journalism during that person’s career.
The winners in previous editions were: Fr Joe Borg (1998), Anton Cassar (1999), Frank Attard (2000), J.G. Vassallo (2001), Anthony Montanaro (2002), John Manduca (2003), Charles Grech Orr (2004), Pawlu Carachi (2005) and Paul Saliba (2006).