The Institute of Maltese Journalists had an excellent turnout to the 20th edition of the Malta Journalism Awards night held at the The Palace a week or so ago. According to the report of the judging panel there was a record 82 submissions this year – last year they received 52 – and 39 submissions reached the finalist stage. Sarah Spiteri played a few pieces on her violin in between one presentation and another thus providing pleasant distraction. There was a frisson and a little suspense before the winner of each of the 14 categories was nominated. We all had friends, or sons and daughters, we wanted to see up there on the podium claiming their prize.
The Institute has been in existence for 20 years and as its Chairman, Malcolm J. Naudi said, even this year they have added yet another category – the Environment Journalism category which is sponsored by GreenPak. We were barely thinking of the environment 20 years ago when the Institute was set up, let alone rewarding those who wrote about it. I would add one more category to the 14, and call it ‘Crafts’ or ‘Folklore’. Thus features such as It-tafal f’Malta, Biedja, Il-hobza Maltija and similar ones which were nominated could be listed under the new category not under Cultural Journalism.
You will find that inspite of the record amount of entries there are many more who could be submitting their work. Our own journalists seem to forget to do so or perhaps do not know about these awards. Perhaps the reason for not applying is laziness or merely forgetfulness. I am happy to report that the one person who sent in her opinion articles from our stable is Josanne Cassar who was nominated together with Claire Bonello and Vanessa Mcdonald. All three are popular writers and don’t need an introduction. I would have liked the three of them to win but this was impossible and it was our Josanne who won the George Sammut Award for Opinion Articles sponsored by the Sammut family. It was also fitting that George Sammut’s grandson, Nicolai, Julian Sammut’s son, should present the award to Josanne. Whatever one might think of these awards – and I know that some are pretty dismissive of them – however being nominated or winning is validation of the work one is doing. It is an important award of the highest institution in journalism we have here. All three opinion writers nominated give us a fresh perspective; are enjoyable to read and have a sense of humour. They often reflect the thoughts and desires of the public, thoughts and desires which the public may not necessarily have the ability or wish to express. Good journalists know what matters to their readers. They’re in touch with their communities. The best services a journalist can give to the public is to identify problems and abuses that need to be solved. To focus attention on misconduct and at the same time to entertain readers, to give them an enjoyable read in a family newspaper. Josanne entertains us too, but not at the expense of others. She also has the ability to laugh at herself. So I am very happy that she won this award for her column. She does many other things in here besides writing a column, including editing a wedding magazine called I Do which is not circulated with the paper. You would be surprised at the amount of work that goes behind the making of a newspaper or magazine. Most of the work we do is donkey work and those of us who write often do so in our own time and at breakneck speed.
At the reception which followed those of us who handled the award – a solid piece of marble – couldn’t understand the point of such a heavy award. Malcolm Naudi explained that it was purposely chosen as a symbol of the heavy responsibility which a journalist has. It is best to keep it away from those who suffer from a bad temper. It could easily kill.
As birthday parties go the grandest which I attended in the last few months was most certainly that of Josianne Savona Colpitts who had over 100 friends and members of her family to dinner at Palazzo Parisio. This was a combined birthday with that of her daughter Rebecca. Lunches at Palazzo Parisio in the garden, especially at this time of year, are a treat but Palazzo Parisio takes on a different look in the evening. There were lit candles on the staircase which made the place look even more magical. Dinner was preceded by cocktails so that friends and acquaintances who had not met for many years some having lived abroad, could try to catch up with 30 or more years of life.
The ballroom looked spectacular and the ladies in cocktails and pieces of lovely jewellery added to its allure. Josianne looked beautiful in black, a contrast to her platinum blonde hair.
We started with artichoke and potato soup which was followed by pan seared beef, vegetables and roast potatoes. A cheese platter served with chutneys, grapes, honey, nuts and water biscuits was already too much but everyone enjoyed it. It was served with Port. Dessert was a trio of Le Tout Chocolat, Light Chocolate Cream and Almond and Chocolate Sacher Tort followed by tea, coffee and petit fours. The wines served were French and Italian and everyone agreed it really was a super extravaganza in every way. (Thank you very much Josianne and Becky.) As if this were not enough we were then ushered to one of the side-rooms where a four-tiered cake embellished with multi-coloured flowers was cut by Josianne and Becky. It was all very beautiful and very grand but also turned out to be fun.
I am sure there was terrible anguish felt by those not bidden to the dinner!
Piano recital at Sala Isouard
LAGA Co Ltd, Silversmiths will be presenting Sofia Narmania in a piano recital at Teatru Manoel Sala Isouard on 30 May. The recital starts at 6.30 pm and the tickets cost €10.
Sofia Narmania was born in the republic of Abkhazia (USSR) in a family of musicians. Since a very early age she demonstrated her outstanding musicianship. At the age of eight years, she won the all-republic piano competition “Rising Star” and two years later she won great public acclaim playing Beethoven’s 2nd Piano Concerto. She was then invited to continue her music education in Moscow Preconservatoire college. In 2001 she entered the Moscow State Conservatoire studying under the most celebrated Russian piano teacher, Professor I. Plotnikova.
During her years of education Sofia appeared on the concert stage as a soloist with many orchestras, and gave several recitals in the main halls of Moscow and in another cities. Since 2000 she has been taking part in the International Music Festival “Khibla Gerzmava invites” both as a soloist and accompanist. She also took part in many master-classes with various renowned professors. In 2009 she finished successfully a postgraduate course at the same conservatoire.
In April 2010 she participated and won first prize in International Piano Competition in Italy. Her repertoire is wide and divers and includes works from Scarlatti to Ginastera.The programme includes works by Bach-Busoni,Beethoven,Chopin,Liszt,Rachmaninov.