Financial Journalism Excellence Programme wins Sustainable Financial Literacy Award

The Financial Journalism Excellence Programme (FJEP), an initiative developed by Market Accents, has won the Sustainable Financial Literacy Award at the Financial Capability Awards 2026, organised by the JA Malta Foundation.

The award was presented by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) at a ceremony held on 15 October at the Corinthia San Ġorġ. The awards recognise initiatives contributing to financial education, inclusion and financial capability in Malta.

Market Accents receiving the FIAU Sustainable Financial Literacy Award (from left), Matthew Caruana, CEO, JA Malta, Catherine Zammit, Communications & PR Manager, FIAU, and Noreen Burroughes Cesareo MBE, Principal, Market Accents

The award highlights an important but often overlooked part of the financial literacy ecosystem: the role of financial journalism and communicators in helping the public understand money, financial information, recognise risks, question claims and make informed decisions that affect their financial wellbeing.

Created and directed by Noreen Burroughes Cesareo MBE, Principal of Market Accents, with international financial journalist Tom Burroughes as lead journalist, the inaugural Financial Journalism Excellence Programme took place at the University of Malta on 27–28 August 2026. It was developed specifically for Malta and brought together journalists and media professionals with representatives from financial services, regulation, financial intelligence, academia and business.

Focus on those shaping public understanding

While many financial literacy initiatives focus on educating consumers directly, FJEP invests in those who shape public understanding through news, digital media and public debate. Its relevance is underscored by the OECD/INFE 2023 International Survey of Adult Financial Literacy, which found that only 46% of adults surveyed in Malta met the minimum financial knowledge target compared with 58% across participating OECD countries.

FJEP was built around the principle “Newsroom – Not Classroom”. The two-day programme combined practical masterclasses, expert discussions, investigative techniques, consumer finance reporting, digital journalism, AI and collaborative editorial exercises. Participants worked with real-world financial information, explored how to challenge corporate and regulatory announcements, and examined the importance of evidence, context, verification and the right of reply.

The programme culminated in an Expert Newsroom Clinic focused on planning coverage of Malta’s forthcoming Budget. A purpose-built Financial Journalism Toolkit provided practical frameworks and resources for continued professional use, while successful completion carried 10 CPD hours.

What financial literacy is all about

Commenting on the award, Noreen Burroughes Cesareo MBE, Programme Director, said: “Financial literacy is not only about what people are taught directly. It is also shaped by the information they encounter every day, the questions asked on their behalf, and how financial decisions and developments are explained to them.

“We created the Financial Journalism Excellence Programme because journalists and communicators play an important role in making complex financial information understandable, but also in scrutinising claims, challenging assumptions and holding institutions and decisionmakers to account.

“Receiving this award is particularly meaningful because it recognises the importance of investing in those who communicate financial information as part of the wider effort to strengthen financial literacy. Our ambition from the outset was to create something that would extend beyond two days of training and contribute to stronger financial journalism and public understanding in Malta.”

Tom Burroughes, Group Editor of the WealthBriefing group of newswires, based in London, and Lead Journalist for the programme, added: “Good financial journalism requires more than reporting figures or repeating what institutions say. Journalists need to know where to look, which questions to ask, how to test the evidence and when to challenge the information put before them.

“The programme gave participants the opportunity to apply these skills to real financial stories and engage directly with people working across the financial sector. Whether reporting on savings, pensions, investments or public finances, well-researched journalism helps people understand the issues and make better-informed choices. Strengthening financial journalism is therefore also an investment in financial literacy.”

Deliberately focused setting

The inaugural programme brought together 25 participants, including 10 media representatives, in a deliberately focused setting that encouraged open discussion and professional exchange. It was very well received, with positive participant feedback highlighting the practical approach, relevance of the topics and opportunities to engage directly with journalists and professionals from across the financial sector.

The initiative benefited from collaboration and support from organisations across financial services, regulation, academia, professional development and the media, including the University of Malta, the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) Malta, Bank of Valletta plc, APS Bank, MARM – Malta Association of Risk Management, VisitMalta, Wealth Briefing and Corporate ID Group.

Professional connections established during the programme have continued through a dedicated participant network, supporting its objective of encouraging dialogue and knowledge-sharing beyond the event itself. The award provides further encouragement to build on the inaugural initiative and develop opportunities that strengthen financial journalism and its contribution to financial literacy, transparency and informed public debate in Malta.

Source: LinkedIn