Pictured above: Karl Wright, Chairman of the Institute of Maltese Journalists, with Ambassador Anthony DeBono, Vice-President of the Tumas Fenech Foundation for Education in Journalism (centre) and Dr Andrew Azzopardi (Photo: Domenic Aquilina)

The Tumas Fenech Foundation for Education in Journalism (FTFEĠ) celebrated the new BA (Hons) in Journalism (MQF Level 6) degree course that is to start in the 2016-2017 academic year at MCAST with a presentation of a memento for the occasion to Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM) Chairman Karl Wright.
On their part, the IĠM presented mementoes to Ambassador Anthony DeBono, Vice-President of the FTFEĠ, and to Dr Andrew Azzopardi, who worked unceasingly so that this course could be assembled and become a reality.
In his address before presenting the memento to Mr Wright, the President of the FTFEĠ, President Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, said: “It is my pleasure that the BA course is being launched at MCAST. Many people worked so that this BA course in Journalism will take shape but I wish to mention in particular Ambassador Anthony DeBono, Dr Andrew Azzopardi and Mr Ian Attard of MCAST and Mr Karl Wright, Chairman of the IĠM, who is taking an active part in the running of the Foundation.
“The course at MCAST will be the first step for the journalism profession to be given official recognition and so that professional journalism ethics will be strengthened through education. A proposal has been made, which is actively being considered, that in future the University will offer a Masters level degree in Journalism.”
On his part, Ambassador DeBono said: “I would first like to truly show my appreciation to the IĠM for this honour.
“It is also only right that I should thank the Board members of the Tumas Fenech Foundation for Education in Journalism, ably led by His Excellency Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, who rolled up their sleeves to ensure that the Foundation’s aims are reached in the interests of all the people of Malta and Gozo, who deserve to have the best professional talent in journalism.
“Naturally, the two members of the Foundation Board, Karl Wright and Roderick Agius, together with the Secretary, Malcolm Naudi, were not only instrumental but were the key to opening many doors that enabled us to reach this historic goal for journalism in the Maltese Islands.
“Special thanks go to MCAST’s management, including its Chairman Silvio Debono and its CEO Stephen Cachia, who together with Director Stephen Vella and the specialist Ian Attard were just as anxious as we were to succeed. I could rely on the assistance of Tonio Protughese, Chairman of PBS, helped greatly so that PBS, together with the Media Centre, will be the centres for practical studies of the BA Journalism course.
“The work that was done some years back by Mario Schiavone, when he put together a draft for a curriculum of the course, was a good foundation on which the academic behind this success, Dr Andrew Azzopardi, was able to build a most modern course that is going to produce journalists prepared to face all the developments of today’s hectic lifestyle.
“But last and certainly not least a huge credit is due to Education Minister Evarist Bartolo who, when HE Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and I spoke to him two years ago, did not hesitate to call a press conference to announce our plans. During those two years, we worked in full unity and he asked me to keep him updated as, step by step, he cleared the path whenever we found any obstacles.”
The prospectus of the course, which will introduce students to the world of journalism, is expected to be announced in the coming days. Students will be guided on how to conduct research, design, develop and produce news content to be presented to the public in a variety of formats, including print, radio, television and the Internet. The objective of this course is to train students to become learned practitioners in analysing and reporting events that shape our lives and the world around us.
For further information on this course please send an e-mail to career.guidance@mcast.edu.mt or call MCAST on 2398-7135.