MJA 2025 – Full list of awardees

1. Business Journalism Award

1^st: HSBC’s potential exit from Malta: the inside story – Neville Borg, Times of Malta  

2^nd: How Malta’s largest cab company built an empire on unchecked illegalities – Matthew Farrugia, MaltaToday

3^rd: Ongoing CRISPR Patent dispute complicates licensing – Christoph Schwaiger

2. Crime & Legal Affairs Journalism Award

1^st: How the Maksars amassed wealth and stayed one step ahead of the law – Jacob Borg, Times of Malta, Amphora Media, OCCRP, IRPI

2^nd: The Magisterial Inquiries Bill – Albert Galea, The Malta Independent  

3^rd: The Maksar gang trial – MaltaToday team

3. Arts & Culture Journalism Award

1^st: Maltese theatre has a longevity problem: how can it be fixed? Ramona Depares

2^nd: Jamie Cardona Jon Mallia Izra Limited

3^rd: 50 sena mir-rappreżentazzjoni tal-ewwel rock opera Maltija Noel D’Anastas MediaLink

4. Upcoming Journalist Award

1^st: Matthew Farrugia, Juliana Zammit MaltaToday 

2^nd: Gabriel Lia Newsbook Malta

5. Environment and Planning Journalism Award

1^st: Shifting goalposts on Villa Rosa – James Debono MaltaToday 

2^nd: Andre Callus vs Joseph Portelli Mark Laurence Zammit Times of Malta

3^rd: Manoel Island saga Albert Galea The Malta Independent 

6. Comment Journalism Award

1^st: Oh please, spare us the bleeding hearts on Gaza – Kurt Sansone MaltaToday

2^nd: Il-ġlieda kontra r-razziżmu – Victor Vella, Union Print

3^rd: Jon Mallia on Clayton Bartolo resignation – Jon Mallia, Izra Limited

7. Features Journalism Award

1^st: Hope under fire – Unhidden Stories Neil Camilleri Giuseppe Attard

Joint 2^nd: Lives shattered on the altar of greed – Matthew Farrugia, MaltaToday; A peek into yesterday’s Malta – Karl Azzopardi, MaltaToday

8. Political Journalism Award

1^st: Exposed: secret plans to share hospital profits via firm linked to Joseph Muscat – Jacob Borg Times of Malta, OCCRP

2^nd: How the Villa Rosa local plan review mirrors the developers’ presentation – Neville Borg, Times of Malta

3^rd: 12 years of PN – Albert Galea, The Malta Independent

9. Sports Journalism Award

1^st: Are Maltese youth sports models flawed? Kyle Patrick Camilleri The Malta Independent 

2^nd: Undervalued: street sports in Malta – Gabriel Lia, Newsbook Malta

Joint 3^rd: Interview with Gżira’s Mendoza on his battle with cancer – Valmhor Camilleri, Times of Malta; Fabio Spiteri on Profili – James Aaron Ellul, NET TV

10. Sports Photojournalism Award

1^st: Golden Flight – Matthias Brancaleone PBS 

2^nd: Twin Focus – Domenic Aquilina IMAGO u The Malta Independent

3^rd: Squid game car demolition – Darrin Zammit Lupi, Reuters

11. Best Photojournalism Award

1^st: Wings against the storm – Jonathan Borg Times of Malta

Joint 2^nd: Respect – Domenic Aquilina, The Malta Independent

Incandescent – Miguela Xuereb, Newsbook Malta

12. Best Podcast Award

1^st: Inside Corradino Prisons – TimesTalk, Mark Laurence Zammit 

2^nd: Ta’ 12-il sena kont inwegga lili nniffsi u kont nghamilha kuljum – Gabriel Lia, RTK103

3^rd: Profili ma’ Keith Marshall – James Aaron Ellul, NET TV

13. Best use of video

1^st: This is why Muscat is in court. Vitals inquiry explained – Mark Laurence Zammit Times of Malta

2^nd: Activists denied attempts to send aid on Gaza-bound flotilla – Darrin Zammit Lupi, Reuters

14. Interview of the Year Award

1^st: PN u l-Kostruzzjoni – Jon Mallia, Izra Limited

2^nd: I was relieved I wasn’t chosen pope – Mark Laurence Zammit, Times of Malta 

Joint 3^rd: Health Minister on Vitals – Semira Abbas Shalan, The Malta Independent ; Titlesta l-inkjesta maġisterjali dwar 17 Black – Christoph Schwaiger

15. Specialist Journalism Award

1^st: Valletta is a coke den – Marc Galdes Times of Malta

2^nd: Ukrajna: tliet snin ta’ gwerra – Unhidden Stories, Neil Camilleri, Giuseppe Attard

3^rd: Fact-check on palliative care – Neville Borg, Times of Malta

16. Premju għall-Aħjar Użu tal-Ilsien Malti Mitkellem

James Aaron Ellul NET TV 

17. Premju għall-Aħjar Użu tal-Ilsien Malti Miktub

Noel D’Anastas Il-Mument 

18. Journalism that Promotes the Rights of Persons with Disability Award

1^st: “We are disabled by society, which is not providing us with the right tools” – Gabriel Lia RTK103

2^nd: There should be no question on inclusivity in Maltese theatre – Ramona Depares

3^rd: ‘It’s a very individual disease’, Alzheimer’s activist urges policymakers to boost understanding – Christoph Schwaiger 

19. Scoop of the Year Award

1^st: Clayton Bartolo’s wife suspected of receiving €50,000 kickback for MTA deal – Jacob Borg Times of Malta 

2^nd: Policeman rent cockroach-infested Sliema house to 16 tenants – James Cummings, Times of Malta

3^rd: Parents withdraw children from school after learning teacher is gay – Giulia Magri, Times of Malta

20. Best Investigation Award –

1^st: Steward funded smear campaign against Chris Fearne – Jacob Borg, Times of Malta, Khadija Sharife, Tom Stocks, OCCRP and Boston Spotlight team, supported by the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation 

2^nd: Racket ta miljuni ta’ ewro; ID Cards iffalsifikati ghall-barranin – Christine Mamo, NET TV

3^rd: Alex Borg u Fort Chambray – Jon Mallia, Izra Limited

Gold Award

Ray Bugeja