Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/475084
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 MARCH 2015 15 one of the matters discussed during his first meeting with the institute's councillors. He goes on to explain that there are different categories and therefore, coming up with guidelines, would be imperative: "We have full-time and part-time journalists and then there are those who host programmes but are not journalists; there are the freelancers; the videographers and photojournalists. And then there are those individuals who don't work in the field at all but still have a press card." Wright admits that there was real concern over the quality of students applying to become journalists, add- ing to the repeated criticism against the present credits offered at the University of Malta. "We see it every time we try to employ someone new… the course at University is what it is and that is why we are holding discussions with MCAST. The syllabus was developed with people in journalism," he says, adding that one would expect the course to cover all aspects, including languages. "It is extremely important for jour- nalists to be at the top of the game, especially now that citizen journal- ism has become so popular. Everyone can practically become a journalist simply by bumping into something, pull out your smartphone, take a pic- ture or a video and post it online." Wright however says one can't sim- ply "switch" and become a journalist – on the other hand, it is a profession one grows into. "It's about showing initiative and be able to diversify, whether you're covering press con- ferences, investigating your own sto- ries, covering parliament or court." He says that quality journalism is even more important today that readers and viewers have a wider ar- ray of media from where to choose. As a journalist working for the Church's media, Wright refutes the suggestion that his place of work could interfere with decisions that he would need to take at IGM. "On a personal level, my employer never interfered in how I conducted my work. The Church never tells me 'ask this' or 'do that'. Obviously, we discuss our editorial lines but I've never experienced interference. But at the end of the day, the decisions that need to be taken at the IGM are not 'Karl's decision', but that of the institute and its councillors." Wright also admits that the IGM needs a stronger female presence, admitting that the zero presence of women at council meetings was also something that had to change. Interview Journalist Karl Wright takes over the Institute of Maltese Journalists, which has had 14 years of uncontested leadership. Criminal libel and a bid to help the Institute overcome journalists' scepticism top his agenda criminal libel' PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD