Sustainability in Journalism
Recognise and celebrate innovative and impactful journalism and reporting related to sustainable development. Applicants under this category can consider:
- Efforts to present fact-based, well-researched and balanced reporting.
- Efforts to report and create further awareness with the public regarding sustainability issues.
- Efforts to make use of compelling and innovative storytelling to engage with a variety of audiences.
- Efforts to mobilise and involve the community, as well as encourage policy reform.
- Efforts to include and reach communities from all backgrounds in Malta and Gozo, especially those not commonly covered by Maltese media.
- Efforts to adhere to journalistic ethics and cover sensitive issues responsibly.
- Any other efforts of journalism that inform, inspire and drive action on sustainable development issues.
Specific Eligibility Criteria
This award will apply specifically to stakeholders that are:
- Journalists and/or contributors to the media in Malta employed with a media organisation registered with the DOI, or freelance journalists/contributors to the media also registered with the DOI.
Submissions must relate to one clearly defined article. Applications may not consist of a collection or portfolio of unrelated articles or of all work carried out by the applicant within the eligible time period. Where an applicant has undertaken several distinct articles, one specific article must be selected and submitted.
Prizes
The winner of this category will be awarded €2,000 in funding to further strengthen and scale its contribution towards sustainable development, along with a trophy in recognition of this achievement. The second and third place recipients will also be awarded a commemorative token in recognition of their accomplishment.
EVALUATION Criteria
1. Impact (50%):
Successful impact includes measurable results in shifting people’s behaviours and public perceptions and/or influencing public policies and/or budgetary allocations towards the acceleration of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Malta’s Sustainable Development Strategic Goals. Successful impact also indicates remarkable improvements in social, economic and environmental conditions including gender equality, health, capacity development, inclusion, economic stability, food security, climate adaptation and/or mitigation, environmental protection, and/or peace.
2. Language, Quality and Community Engagement (30%):
Assesses how clearly, accurately, and responsibly the work communicates to the public using credible sources and accessible language that makes sustainability topics easy to understand.
3. Novelty/Innovation of the approach (10%):
How innovative is this project/initiative? How does the project/initiative build upon a breakthrough idea?
4. Public vote (10%):
Each shortlisted nomination will be put on social media and the public will vote on the award they believe deserves to win.
