Why Tony Montanaro deserves gold

Former editor of The Sunday Times, Anthony G. Montanaro, KM, was last Tuesday honoured with the Gold Award for his dedication to the journalism profession. Mr Montanaro, is the chairman of the Strickland Foundation and a director of Allied Newspapers Ltd.

The following is the address by President Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, chairman of the judging panel composed of Architect Michael Falzon and Mr Lino Bugeja, that was asked to consider Mr Montanaro`s nomination of the award:

The Gold Award is intended to give recognition to a person for his contribution to journalism in the country in the media not just in a single year but throughout his entire life.

Mr Joe Brockdorff instituted this award in 1997 to integrate it with the BPC Award to Journalists that is given each year to those who distinguish themselves that year. It is an award that highlights the constant dedication of a person towards the profession.

Because while a contribution to journalism is also given by some for occasional service, and while in truth journalism is not the sole domain of journalists, the profession needs not only those who are drawn to it occasionally while they are fulfilling other duties, it also needs, perhaps even more, those who made it the central anchor of their entire life`s work.

When I and my colleagues, Architect Michael Falzon and Mr Lino Bugeja, saw Mr Montanaro`s nomination, we looked at each other and asked ourselves how it was that he had not yet received this award. For if there is anyone in Malta and Gozo who in the past 50 years personified dedication to the journalism profession, this was certainly Mr Montanaro.

His nomination came from the political leaders, that is the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, journalists and academics of all tendencies, as from the Archbishop of Malta. If it were possible we would like to record that this award is being given by acclamation. If it were possible for the words used in the nominations to be read out, they testify to the universal recognition of the huge value of Mr Montanaro`s contribution.

All of them praised the seriousness, scrupulousness in the recounting of facts, and precision in his expression of opinion that distinguished Mr Montanaro. Above all, they pointed to the honesty he showed in the execution of his journalism activity.

From 1946 to today he has worked with the same organisation, Allied Newspapers Ltd, with huge loyalty and fidelity to its titles, and their ideals and his own. Among those who nominated him and who stressed the point that they did not agree at all with him they nonetheless understood that Mr Montanaro was sincere and authentic in his work.

Besides these moral characteristics that were fundamental to the way he thinks, writes and acts, there is also his truly great technical capability as a journalist. Mr Montanaro worked in various sections of the newspaper but everywhere he worked he managed to put his seal of seriousness on his newspapers.

When he was Editor, on the other hand, he managed to gradually change and open up the newspapers to contributions by people of different opinions and he increased the scope of attention without losing its authority.

The newspapers he led were also a commercial success without ever stooping to sensationalism. They built an assiduous readership that was greater than the number of people who agree with the newspapers` ideals. Some seem to think that this success came by itself, or was the result of lucky circumstances.

Many were the people who under Mr Montanaro`s leadership contributed to building this institution. One must not forget also that on several occasions Mr Montanaro faced blows (both in his personal life and in his working life at the press where he worked) that would weaken the will of people with less determination, courage and loyalty than him.

When I was President of the Republic in 1995 I had the pleasure to stick the insignia of member of the National Order of Merit on his lapel. Today it is my honour to give gold. His merit was truly national. He showed that it is possible in our country to be successful without deceit, without betraying your principles. And this is a great lesson that can be applied to every sector.

He showed that journalism is an honourable profession, and essential for democracy. This deserves to be proclaimed because it is very important. He showed that you can even obtain the respect and esteem of your adversaries when you are loyal and serious. Even this needs to be well understood.

He is surely a person who does not like to be adorned with all that glitters; but he deserves gold more, perhaps because of his indestructible modesty.

In his reply, Mr Montanaro said journalism is a lifelong profession which occupied individuals every moment of every day. He thought he was joining Allied Malta Newspapers for just three months in summer while he was studying at the Royal University of Malta in 1945 and he never left.

He urged the new generation of journalists to face their profession with dedication and to be prepared for a life of constant self-improvement.