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National Thursday 9 February 2012 - 17:28

Journalist wins EU award for MaltaToday article

Caroline Muscat is Malta winner of EU Journalist Award 2011.

Caroline Muscat is presented the EU journalist award 2011 by Martin Bugelli.

The European Commission Representation in Malta today awarded Caroline Muscat, a freelance journalist, with the national prize of the journalist competition For Diversity. Against Discrimination.

The winning article entitled 'Seeing black and right' was published on MaltaToday on Sunday on 30 October 2011.

The Head of the EC Representation in Malta, Mr Martin Bugelli, presented the certificate and a gift voucher to Muscat at the EC Representation Office in Dar l-Ewropa, Valletta.

Bugelli complimented Caroline Muscat for winning this award for the second year running, clearly indicating her commitment to a non-discriminatory environment in Maltese society. He stressed the importance of always considering people on the basis of their individuality as a whole person, and not prejudging and relating with others on the basis of any one particular attribute, which has no bearing on the validity of individuals as persons.

Caroline Muscat is an environmental campaigner who has blogged regularly on MaltaToday.com.mt. "Caroline's journalism has brought to light many aspects of environmental and social justice in Malta that few other members in the trade manage to accomplish. Her profound insight into the lives of migrants and asylum seekers and the challenges they face in Malta is unique. It has been MaltaToday's pleasure to host her on our blogs and print pages," Matthew Vella, editor of MaltaToday.com.mt, said.

The winning article looked into the humanitarian aspect of racism in Malta. The jury panel remarked that the article was very well researched and carried a good EU related component. The jury added that it went beyond the institutional type of discrimination and that because of its human element, the story captured the reader's interest. Ms Muscat's article will now be representing Malta at the European level of the competition.

An independent jury, chaired by Dr Angelo Chetcuti, press and political officer at the EC Representation, assessed the 31 submissions by Maltese journalists.

More than 900 articles from across the European Union were submitted in this competition raising awareness about discrimination and diversity. In March, a European jury will select the overall winner of the 2011 European Journalists Award competition. All national winners will participate in this second round. For the eight year running, this award honours journalists who contribute to a better understanding of the benefits of diversity and the fight against discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, race or ethnic origin.

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  • 13 Comments
Posted by: Sandra — 12/02/2012 14:13:06
It's really clear to me that Ms Muscat's point in her article NEWS WITHOUT TRUTH is not that of plagarism. Her point is simple, that of freedom of choice and the right to health care. Mr. Vincenti fails to see this but focuses on the plagarism bit...it's not the point Mr Vincenti. Thank you for the intelligent reading Caroline and for voicing women's concerns locally as well as globally. It's high time we start engaging in intelligent debates about our existence rather than follow some fluffy argument about good and evil, right and wrong.
Posted by: daviniahamilton — 11/02/2012 23:07:01
Mr Vincenti, personal attacks are not going to win you any sympathy. I know first hand the immense effort Caroline puts into researching her articles to make sure they are of the highest standard. She is committed to her causes and she is a serious journalist. I can assure you she would not ever carry out her research on Wikipedia either. She is far too professional to do that.
Posted by: Sara Falconi — 11/02/2012 14:31:11
Mr Vincenti, I doubt that personal attacks and attempts to discredit an extremely rigourous and bright journalist such as Ms Muscat (and her work talks for itself) can in any way help your arguments. I would also be careful in using Wikipedia as an accurate source. All my support and admiration go to Ms Muscat and her courageous way of questioning certain issues and standing for civil justice and human rights in Malta.
Posted by: Nicolette Falzon — 11/02/2012 13:42:30
Mr Vincenti, I am glad you referred readers to Ms Muscat’s article. For those who are unacquainted, let them see for themselves, the rigour and the professionalism with which Ms Muscat does her work! There isn’t a single article she wrote which is not backed up by solid research and not a single argument which is unfounded. She truly deserves this award! If journalism doesn’t serve the purpose of questioning the lot we are dealt, if it is just a rephrasing of views that have been handed down year after year, then it is not journalism and it is useless in our news media. There are other places, including Facebook (!), for catharsis.
Posted by: Roberta Buhagiar — 11/02/2012 12:46:50
Mr Vincenti, if you want to create solid arguments discussing morality and human rights, perhaps you should avoid using Wikipedia as a source. It adds nothing to the credibility of your argument and quite frankly, it makes me laugh. On the other hand, time and time again Ms Muscat has proven to be a brilliant journalist, not only because she checks her facts before writing but also because her insight is truly a great contribution to a mature discussion about freedom from discrimination and civil rights in Malta. Well done!
Posted by: Maria Pisani — 11/02/2012 12:34:32
It is Mr. Vincenti’s own insistence on ‘diametrically opposed ideologies’ that scares me the most. In sticking to the source, Wikipedia defines ‘binary opposition’ as ‘a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. Binary opposition is the system by which, in language and thought, two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another’. Wiki goes on: The categorization of binary oppositions is "often value-laden and ethnocentric", with an illusory order and superficial meaning’.
Posted by: Matthew Vella — 11/02/2012 09:03:01
Yes, I did censor a comment of yours that totally misrepresents this newspaper with your commercially libellous insinuations. Your gratuitous accusations against this newspaper are solely informed by the fact that we afford space to critics of your campaigns.

Readers should also be informed MaltaToday is now moderating comments in light of the recent political events. Our terms of reference are found here.

Posted by: Paul Vincenti — 11/02/2012 00:45:59
I see now you are into censoring me. Very liberal of you and your paper. Thank goodness for facebook. I think I will tell my story there seeing that a post I made over 5 hours ago explaining your so called 'in the clear' has mysteriously not appeared in this section. I don't doubt that it will suddenly appear after this post. What goes around comes around Matthew. Dishonesty never works.
Posted by: Matthew Vella — 10/02/2012 15:12:53
This is the blogpost Mr Vincenti refers to: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/News-without-truth

I have checked the Wikipedia definition for 'ethical journalism' and it looks like we're in the clear on this one.

Posted by: Paul Vincenti — 10/02/2012 11:09:25
IS THE MT censoring my comments?
Posted by: Paul Vincenti — 10/02/2012 10:56:17
As Ms Muscat basks in her ego let me enlighten readers of an incident that shows just how ethical this paper is. Ms Muscat refused to correct an article she wrote in my regard. She had accused me of plagiarism. This was in reference to a letter by me that was published in the Times of Malta. The Times left out my reference to individualism and collectivism which definition I lifted from Wikipedia. Ms Muscat accused me of plagiarizing from Wikipedia in her piece. I called the Times and objected to them printing my letter without the appropriate references which had been included in my original letter. They printed a correction and an apology for not including my reference as in the original letter. I then contacted the Malta Today and asked for a correction to be issued as the Times had admitted fault. This paper refused to issue a clarification. This is the standard of unethical journalism that this paper defends and then awards. Ms Muscat did not even have the decency to correct her accusations. Shameful behavior in my view. Was informed by Matthew Vella of this paper that he did not see any reason to issue a correction. Mighty ethical of him and this paper. let the EU chew on that one.
Posted by: franco — 09/02/2012 18:24:21
Congratulations you honour yourself and MaltaTday.
Posted by: Narcy Calamatta — 09/02/2012 17:44:41
Congratulations to Ms Caroline Muscat for being awarded such a prestgious journalism recognition. She chose a socially relevant subject and contributed to the change to a better world by bringing awareness to the her readers of the ills of discrimination and prejudice. She started on the right foot. She will be assured of a serious journalistic career. If I may take this opportunity I would like to suggest that like-thinking journalists take up some research to see the effect on society after 25 years of blanket boycott of public spirited people who have a different political alliance to the party in government. I feel that the arts and even emarginated groups have suffered because of this.