Next month during the 24th edition of the Malta Journalist Awards, organised by the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM), the Tumas Fenech Foundation for Education in Journalism (FTFEĠ) is sponsoring the Gold Award for the seventh consecutive year.

The foundation, which celebrates its 15th anniversary next year, has as part of its mission the raising of the standards of the local media and is now a regular major sponsor through the Gold Award, the highest recognition in Maltese journalism.

This is the 17th year that this award is being presented to a nominated person who, according to a three-person independent jury presided over this year by President Emeritus Dr George Abela, has gone beyond the call of duty in local journalism.

“Over the past six years, the Gold Award has rewarded some long-standing members and contributors of the Maltese journalism profession,” said President Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, chairman of the FTFEĠ. “Therefore it is an honour and a pleasure for us, at FTFEĠ to sponsor such a prize, which gives recognition and due status to the Maltese journalist who has truly excelled throughout his career.

“We also admire the work done by the IGM, which in parallel to ours, has been promoting higher standards and more ethical journalism in Malta for almost a quarter of a century.”

IĠM chairman Malcolm J. Naudi thanked President Emeritus Mifsud Bonnici and the Tumas Fenech Foundation for their involvement in the Malta Journalism Awards. “The Gold Award is the highest award a member of the journalism profession can aspire to receive and the FTFEĠ has recognised the contribution it can give through sponsoring this award.

The IĠM is a co-founder of the FTFEĠ and works within the foundation to promote opportunities for educating members of the media locally.”

The winners will be announced during a presentation ceremony being held on May 3 at the Palace Hotel in Sliema.