2004 SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence 24-Jun-2004
SOPA ANNOUNCES 2004 EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
Newsweek, DestinAsian and Business Weekly (Taiwan) top the magazines category and Financial Times and Apple Daily sweep best newspapers awards
Hong Kong (June 24, 2004)-the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) announced today the winners of its 2004 awards for Editorial Excellence. Winners were selected for 41 categories for English language media and Chinese language media. In its sixth year, the SOPA Editorial awards received a record high of 278 entries in from leading publications across the region. The judges comprised 90 respected journalists, editors and academics from top national and regional media and top universities based in Asia.
"Such a professionally competitive process, inclusive of the global media brands, can only improve the quality of journalism and the value of the publishing industry in Asia. It would be insulting to Asian journalists and editors to say that they cannot measure-up to international standards of excellence and therefore should not have to compete on equal terms with the world¡¦s best", said Cyril Pereira SOPA Chairman.
This year SOPA also introduced a number of new categories to further recognize Asia's high journalistic standards. The newly introduced categories are:
Excellence in Human Rights Reporting Excellence in Reporting on the Environment Excellence in Editorial Cartoon Local Journalist Award
The 2004 SOPA Award Winners are:
CATEGORY A-Regional newspapers, large magazines and wire services published in English
Excellence in Magazines Winner: Newsweek Honourable Mention: TIME Asia
Newsweek-"Chilling and prescient investigative reporting that should be required reading for all."
Excellence in Newspapers Winner: Financial Times Honourable Mention: The Asian Wall Street Journal
Financial Times-"An incredibly strong debut."
Excellence in Reporting Winner: The Asian Wall Street Journal (Inside North Korea Inc.) Honourable Mention: Newsweek (Series on Afghanistan)
Inside North Korea Inc.-"They knocked this one out of the park! Good detail, new material, widespread coverage, an eye opener with substance."
Excellence in Feature Writing Winner: The Asian Wall Street Journal (The Abductee) Honourable Mention: TIME Asia (Stealing Beauty)
The Abductee - "An impressive piece of journalism that provides insight into the closed North Korean regime through the telling of a personal and moving story."
Excellence in Business Reporting Winner: The Asian Wall Street Journal (Beyond the Factory Floor) Honourable Mention: Financial Times (China's Financial Future)
Beyond the Factory Floor-"A richly reported series of articles...This series should be required reading for anyone interested in global manufacturing and will go a long way to dispel the myth that China is nothing but an archipelago of sweatshops."
Excellence in Human Rights Reporting Winner: TIME Asia (Welcome to the Jungle, Young Blood, Lost Lives) Honourable Mention: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Series on CCP)
Welcome to the Jungle-"A rare piece of journalistic work on forgotten fighters."
Excellence in Reporting on the Environment Winner: BusinessWeek (Asia's Future: Cleanup time) Honourable Mention: The Asian Wall Street Journal (When Worlds Collide)
Asia's Future: Cleanup time-"Good writing turns a worthy topic into one that makes the reader sit up and take notice."
Excellence in Special Issue or Special Section Winner: TIME Asia (Asian Journey) Honourable Mention: Newsweek (Boom Towns: Is Asia's Urban Explosion a Blessing or a Curse?)
Asian Journey-"The best special issues are those that readers would want to keep for their libraries, turning a throwaway periodical into a treasured publication. TIME's "Journey Home" issue stands out for achieving this benchmark. The concept is strong and tightly focused, with writing, art and design working together to create a classy package."
Excellence in Opinion Writing Winner: The Asian Wall Street Journal (Supporting the Hong Kong Protests) Honourable Mention: The Asian Wall Street Journal (An Essential Voice)
Supporting the Hong Kong Protests-"Moving and well-supported explanation of the passions leading to Hong Kong's democracy march on Jul 1, 2003."
Excellence in Wire Service Reporting Winner: Dow Jones Newswires (Chinese Financial Markets Lurch into 21st Century) Honourable Mention: Bloomberg News (Wall Street Seeks China)
Chinese Financial Markets Lurch into 21st Century-"These pieces reflect tremendous effort and thorough knowledge of a hugely complex subject."
Excellence in Online Publishing Winner: The Wall Street Journal Online (SARS Coverage) Honourable Mention: www.financeasia.com (Finance Asia)
The Wall Street Journal Online-"Masterful use of graphics and Internet to tell a story."
Excellence in Magazine Design Winner: TIME Asia (Japan Rules OK, Asian Journey, Stealing Beauty) Honourable Mention: Newsweek (Boom Towns: Is Asia's Urban Explosion a Blessing or a Curse?, The Who's Next Issue, Issues 2004: Power: Who's Got It Now)
TIME Asia-"An excellent package, strong use of images and graphics."
Excellence in Magazine Front Cover Design Winner: TIME Asia (Lost Lives) Honourable Mention: Far Eastern Economic Review (God's Man in China: Bishop Zen Battles Beijing)
Lost Lives-"Moving and striking."
Excellence in Newspaper Design Winner: Financial Times Honourable Mention: The Asian Wall Street Journal
Financial Times-"Solid execution of design."
Excellence in News Photography Winner: TIME Asia (Welcome to the Jungle) Honourable Mention: TIME Asia (Bali I)
Welcome to the Jungle-"Stunning, evocative, photojournalism at its best."
Excellence in Feature Photography Winner: TIME Asia (Lost Lives) Honourable Mention: TIME Asia (Time Bends)
Lost Lives-"This photographer has captured tragic human conditions that stop us in out tracks and command corrective measures. Feature photography at its best."
Local Journalist Award Winner: Ian Tan from The New Paper Honourable Mention: Tonette Orejas from Philippine Daily Inquirer
CATEGORY B-Local newspapers or small magazines published in English
Excellence in Magazines Winner: DestinAsian Honourable Mention: WestEast Magazine
DestinAsian-"The travel magazine is a well worn genre, but DestinAsian manages to carry off the familiar in a way that is surprising in its elegance, stylishness and relevance."
Excellence in Reporting Winner: Young Parents (The Prince and Pauper in Special Education) Honourable Mention: The Straits Times (Series on terror activities in Indonesia)
The Prince and Pauper in Special Education-"This is an information-packed explication of the important, little-publicized problem of special education in Singapore. The article sets out the issues clearly and sensitively without being maudlin or sentimental."
Serendipity's Shores-"Rogers has a sharp eye for detail, nuance and the telling anectdote, and he strings them together in a feature that is as informative as it is gracefully written."
Excellence in Business Reporting Winner: The Straits Times (Series on AIA) Honourable Mention: The Edge Malaysia (Top Ten Companies to Watch 2004, Air Asia, New Twists at Bakun, The Rail Deal, Smart Bet or Fool's Gold, Is this Bull For Real?)
Series on AIA-"This is a classic expose, well executed and showing that Asian publications are developing the flair for investigative reporting."
Excellence in Special Issue or Special Section Winner: Asia Inc. (Who's HOT in Asia) Honourable Mention: The Straits Times (Remembering)
Excellence in Magazine Design Winner: Wine & Dine Honourable Mention: Young Parents
Wine & Dine-"Appetizing pictures, clear story layout, and clever mix of images is attractive."
Excellence in Magazine Front Cover Design Winner: WestEast Magazine (New China Issue-Zhang Ziyi) Honourable Mention: Spike
New China Issue-"A stylish and striking cover that perfectly illustrates the New China theme of the issue."
Excellence in Newspaper Design Winner: The Sunday Times Honourable Mention: The Edge Malaysia
The Sunday Times-"Breezy, easy to browse, with varied photos. Hews close to their slogan of appealing to the senses."
Excellence in News Photography Winner: The Straits Times (PSA gives out the pink slips) Honourable Mention: Philippine Daily Inquirer (The strongman cometh...)
PSA gives out the pink slips-"Powerful image that tells the human story of an economic recession and retrenchment. Beautifully composed."
Excellence in Feature Photography Winner: The Straits Times (The frog prince, The survivor, I will go on living) Honourable Mention: DestinAsian (Forever Paradise)
CATEGORY C-Chinese language publications
Excellence in Magazines Winner: Business Weekly Honourable Mention: Ming Pao Monthly
Business Weekly-"Lots of ambitious, original, rigoroius reporting presented in a compelling and accessible style."
Excellence in Newspapers Winner: Apple Daily Honourable Mention: Ming Pao
Apple Daily-"The Apple Daily is absolutely world class in the way it meshes photos, graphics, headlines and text to form an attractive and digestible newspaper."
Excellence in Reporting Winner: Apple Daily (Lexus Gate) Honourable Mention: Ming Pao (SARS Outbreak)
Lexus Gate-"Sensational case covered with style, wit and attention to detail."
Excellence in Feature Writing Winner: Ming Pao Weekly (2003 Outlook of Life) Honourable Mention: Business Weekly (One Taiwan, Two Worlds)
Ming Pao Weekly-"Characters well-depicted, strong language skills and thought provoking."
Excellence in Business Reporting Winner: Business Weekly (66-Day Conspiracy and Power Struggle) Honourable Mention: Ming Pao (Hong Kong's Road to Recovery)
66-Day Conspiracy and Power Struggle-"It's classic business journalism."
Excellence in Human Rights Reporting Winner: Apple Daily (Long Live Hong Kong People) Honourable Mention: Ming Pao Weekly (A Profile of South Asian Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong)
Long Live Hong Kong People-"Excellent coverage of the anti-Article 23 march as well as the wider movement to defend civil and political rights."
Excellence in Reporting on the Environment Winner: Ming Pao Weekly (A Flowering Tree: a Reflection of the Hong Kong Administration) Honourable Mention: Ming Pao (Conservation)
Excellence in Special Issue or Special Section Winner: Apple Daily (Anita Mui Only Left us with Memories) Honourable Mention: Ming Pao (A Tribute of Praise to SARS Heroes)
Anita Mui Only Left us with Memories-"An impressive and thoughtful effort that enables the reader to appreciate the extraordinary life of an extraordinary woman."
Excellence in Magazine Design Winner: ELLE Taiwan (Trend Report, Fashion Mommy in Town, Meet me in the Subway) Honourable Mention: City Magazine
ELLE Taiwan-"Stunning graphic and page design."
Excellence in Magazine Front Cover Design Winner: Fortune China (China's Top 100 Publicly Listed Companies) Honourable Mention: Ming Pao Weekly (Macau CDC Way Ahead of Hong Kong in Fighting Dengue Fever)
Fortune China-"The theme is well communicated by the combined elements used in the cover design."
Excellence in Newspaper Design Winner: Apple Daily Honourable Mention: Sing Tao Daily
Excellence in Editorial Cartooning Winner: Apple Daily (People's Power) Honourable Mention: Apple Daily (Citizens' Choice)
People's Power-"The best cartoons usually hit you between the eyes, like this one. It's funny, sardonic, to the point, well-drawn, a little naughty and resonates on a number of levels. Above all, it captures a moment in time perfectly."
Excellence in News Photography Winner: Apple Daily, Taiwan (26 Women Dumped into Sea by Brutal Smugglers) Honourable Mention: Apple Daily, Taiwan (Who's Mercy Should the Socially Disadvantaged Plead? Loving father hanged himself as protest)
26 Women Dumped into Sea by Brutal Smugglers-"The picture speaks to the heart of the story as well as to the human heart. Beautifully done."
Excellence in Feature Photography Winner: Ming Pao Weekly (Apliu Street: the Last Natural Habitat in Hong Kong for Exotic Dealers) Honourable Mention: Ming Pao (My Swimming Pool: Victoria Harbour)
A gala dinner sponsored by Invest HK (Title sponsor) & Factiva (Event sponsor) was held on 24 June 2004 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong to honour all winners and present the awards. The event featured keynote speaker Sheila S. Coronel, executive director of the manila-based Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism-a non-profit agency specializing in investigative journalism. At the gala dinner, SOPA has presented a cheque to The Society for the Relief of Disabled Childrenat Sandy Bay. This was part of SOPA's annual donation to charity from the proceeds of the organization's activities. Invest HK's sponsorship funds would fall into SOPA's 2004 contribution of which the donation decision would be made by the end of the year.
The 2004 awards were supported by Ifra Asia, International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP), the World Editors Forum (WEF), the editorial division of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), MEDIA Magazine, and Asia Media Journal.
The SOPA Awards were established in 1999 as a tribute to editorial excellence in both traditional and new media and are designed to honour excellence and to encourage editorial vitality throughout the region. This year's awards cover a broad range of categories reflecting Asia's vibrant and successful editorial scene.
Photos are available upon request.
Download soft copy of the Press Release here
SOPA Editorial Awards Attract Top Judges
The Society of Publishers in Asia 2004 Awards for Editorial Excellence has attracted more than 90 judges from many of the region's leading newspapers and consumer and trade magazines.A total of 278 entries was received this year in 42 Awards categories
Chairperson of the Awards committee, Simone Wheeler, said the increase in the number of judges reflected the growing stature of the awards, and indicated commitment and concern for quality journalism by the region’s most senior editors and industry professionals.
"The Awards provide a benchmark for quality that ensures the industry remains dynamic and competitive," Wheeler said. "The judging process is the key to ensuring the stature and growth of the Awards, which are important not only for editorial, but also the business of publishing."
The SOPA Awards are a tribute to editorial excellence in newspapers, magazines, wire services and websites circulated in Asia and with an Asian focus, and are in recognition of the vibrant journalism they practice, often in the face of stiff challenges. The 2004 awards include an updated range of categories and rules of eligibility, to encourage greater competition, ensure fair competition, and offer greater transparency of the process. Entries can be in either English or Chinese, and must have been published and distributed in calendar year 2003.
This year, SOPA is proud to be sponsored by InvestHK and have the support from Ifra Asia, International Federation of Periodical Press (FIPP), the World Editors Forum (WEF), the editorial division of the World Association of Newspapers(WAN), Asia Media Journal (AMJ) and media magazine.
Publications may submit entries as they like in any category. Judging is done by a regional panel of editors from leading publications together with academics who will select winners in each category.
The entry fee is based on a publication's circulation and the number of entries from a single publication. There is no fee charged for entry in the Local Journalist Award Categories.
Winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony to be held on 24th June 04 at JW Marriott Hong Kong.
The categories for entry are:
Excellence in Newspapers Excellence in Magazines Excellence in Online Publishing Excellence in Reporting Excellence in Opinion Writing Excellence in Wire Service Reporting Excellence in Feature Writing Excellence in Business Reporting Excellence in Human Rights Reporting Excellence in Reporting on the Environment Excellence in News Photography Excellence in Feature Photography Excellence in Newspaper Design Excellence in Magazine Design Excellence in Magazine Front Cover Design Excellence in Special Issue or Special Section Excellence in Editorial Cartooning Local Journalist Award - English (No charge for this entry) Local Journalist Award - Chinese (No charge for this entry) Please download an entry form here
