“We wish you to make journalism and society a better place”: Zvonimir Boban and Bjorn Vassallo celebrating Young Reporters in Malta

An exciting UEFA Under-19 Championship full of goals, emotions, and stories to be told, has been the stage for an unforgettable Young Reporters Programme in Malta between AIPS and the European Governing Body of Football.

 

After two immersive weeks of intense work, the twelve young journalists from three different continents who took part in the project have broadened their professional and personal horizons: They acquired new, precious skills in journalism, they expanded their general knowledge about football and the profession itself, but most of all, they lived an unforgettable experience as a true media team covering an international event.

 

Before the Under-19 Championship final between Portugal and Italy, at Centenary Stadium located in Ta' Qali, Malta, the young journalists received official certificates from UEFA and AIPS: Former football legend Zvonimir Boban, UEFA Technical Director & Chief of football, presented the certificates to the Young Reporters with Bjorn Vassallo, Malta Football Association President, and Gianni Merlo, President of the International Sports Press Association.

 

UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS Gianni Merlo introduced the special guests to the Young Reporters as they stepped on the stage: “I want to thank Boban and the Football Association of Malta for their presence here today. You know, Zvonimir and I have known each other for a very long time. We made something special here in Malta in these two weeks. From my point of view, this experience can be very useful and important for your career. Since the time we started making these programs, ten years ago, during the UEFA Under-21 in Israel in 2013, we shared important, unforgettable moments. Again, I want to thank UEFA for the opportunity it has given to us.”

 

JOURNALISTS AS STAKEHOLDERS AIPS President gave then the stage to Bjorn Vassallo, who expressed the importance of this tournament for Malta: “We welcome you in Malta, young journalists” he stated: “Thanks to this tournament, we have met a lot of people from everywhere, this is important for our community. Malta is a place for engagement and thanks to the event it has improved. I am very happy to be here with all of you: AIPS, thanks to its strong engagement with sports journalists, has done a great job so far for sports journalism in general so far, in defense of the principles of your profession. I see journalists as key stakeholders in our community. I wish you good luck in the future and I hope we’ll see a great match tonight. I hope we’ll see you as important journalists.”

 

A MATTER OF TRUTH AND FREEDOM Therefore, Zvonimir Boban gave a brief speech to the Young Reporters before giving them the certificates: “Thank you very much to everyone for being here in Malta. I believe that being a journalist is a big responsibility for our society. Your work, and your credibility, are all a matter of truth and freedom of speech you have and put into your profession. If you respect these concepts, I am sure you will make society and sports in general better.

 

He then underlined the important relationship between the International Sports Press Association and the European Governing Body of Football: “AIPS and UEFA collaboration is important. This opportunity provides you the chance to engage with key figures and events. Criticism in journalism is better, a big responsibility. I was a journalist many years ago and I fell in love with it. Not only sports, in general, I truly respect your work. I hope you will preserve this passion that you have. Keep strong, keep going, good luck.”

 

THE YOUNG REPORTERS The young journalists, therefore, received certificates of merit as the ceremony ended with a big applause. The twelve journalists participating in the AIPS Young Reporters Programme in Malta for the UEFA

 

U-19 European Championships are:
- Camila Alves, Brazil
- Guðmundur Aðalsteinn Ásgeirsson, Iceland
- Emmanuel Ayamga, Ghana
- Ryan Cauchi, Malta
- Panagiota Chalkia, Greece
- Andrew Dempsey, Ireland
- Costanza Marsili, Italy
- Tomáš Plavecký, Slovakia
- Alba Reinado, Spain
- João Sampaio, Portugal
- Tor Henrik Fredriksen Stensland, Norway
- Konrad Witkowski, Poland

 

AIPS Media PHOTO: Lantern Photography (find full caption below the article)