<a href='https://ads.independent.com.mt/www/delivery/ck.php?n=afef72b0&cb=62' target='_blank'><img data-src='https://ads.independent.com.mt/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=22&cb=62&n=afef72b0' border='0' alt='' /></a>The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM) has elected a new council for the 2026–2028 term, with journalist Nicole Meilak chosen as president following the organisation's annual general meeting held on Friday. Meilak succeeds Matthew Xuereb, who stepped down after serving as IĠM president for the past six years. In his final address as president, Xuereb reflected on the institute's achievements during his six-year tenure, describing it as "an honour and a privilege" to lead the organisation. He highlighted the establishment of unionisation for journalists, efforts to lay the groundwork for media reform, and advocacy for stronger legal protections for journalists, including anti-SLAPP legislation. "We turned the IĠM's dream of decades into reality with unionisation and worked to lay the groundwork for media reform and stronger protections for journalists," Xuereb said, wishing the incoming council success.