Awards hosted by China Daily remain a vibrant exchange platform for journalism scholars and students from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Oswald Chan reports from Hong Kong.
Winners of the Campus News Awards 2021 and guests pose for a group photo at presentation ceremony on Thursday. Winning entries were selected from more than 770 entries submitted by about 3,000 journalism students from the Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and Taiwan. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Government officials, business leaders, journalism professors, veteran reporters and journalism students gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Campus News Awards — the only exchange platform for journalism scholars and students from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
Around 3,000 journalism students from universities on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan competed in the 24 award categories of this year’s Campus News Awards.
These works reflect the students’ global perspective, diverse interests and humanistic concern for society, all of which are important qualities for a journalist.
Carrie Lam, Chief Executive, HKSAR
The annual event, launched by China Daily Hong Kong in 2012, this year received over 770 entries, including English-language and Chinese-language in-depth stories and feature videos, from 54 universities of the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
More than 150 winners, journalism scholars and judges participated in this year’s ceremony in person as well as online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the news award presentation ceremony held in Hong Kong on Thursday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, in a pre-recorded video speech, said she appreciated the efforts that China Daily Hong Kong has made over the past 10 years to provide students such a “unique platform to communicate and exchange ideas with peers” from the four locations.
READ MORE: Young reporters from 4 places mark 10th Campus News Awards
Lam said she was impressed by the students’ work, which covered a wide range of topics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional handicrafts, climate change, concern for the disadvantaged, and the new economic model.
“These works reflect the students’ global perspective, diverse interests and humanistic concern for society, all of which are important qualities for a journalist,” she said.
Lam highlighted the significance of journalism to society, saying: “News is the first draft of history, and high-quality news reporting can also promote social progress.”
She encouraged the award winners to pursue their dreams in the future and serve society as qualified witnesses of history.
Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu, who officiated at the ceremony, said that students can gain practical experience and news perspective as well as hone their writing skills and video-shooting capabilities to build their journalism careers on a solid basis by participating in the news competition.
Lee said he hopes students continue to perfect their journalistic skills, uphold professional ethics, and make a contribution to the society.
“You (journalism students) are young, energetic, and passionate, possess keen news judgment capability, care for the society and cultivate a broad perspective that makes you become newcomers in the media industry,” Lee said.
Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Hong Kong, said, “Currently, the Campus News Awards is the only exchange platform for journalism scholars and students from the four places, facilitating interactions of mainland journalism scholars and students with their peers in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
“Looking ahead, we expect the resumption of cross-border travel between Hong Kong and the mainland can enhance the strength and depth of the exchange activities of journalism professors and students from the four places.”
Other prominent government officials and business leaders attended the ceremony, such as Zheng Lin, deputy director of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Xiao Hong, deputy director of Department of Taiwan Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR; Under-secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin; acting director of Information Services Grace Ng Yee-mei; Legislative Council member Felix Chung; Li Dahong, deputy chairman of the board and editor-in-chief of Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group; MTR Corp’s Corporate Affairs and Branding Director Linda Choy; David Fong Man-hung, deputy chairman of Fong’s Family Foundation and the Fong Shu Fook Tong Foundation; and CLP Power Hong Kong Chief Corporate Development Officer Quince Chong.
At the ceremony, Zhou issued long-term contribution awards to 39 individuals, including professors, veteran journalists, experts, community leaders and business leaders, and seven organizations, including MTR Corp and CLP Holdings.
The winners, journalism scholars and judges who could not participate in this year’s ceremony because of the pandemic made online videos to express their appreciation toward the news award event.
The competition this year had 24 award categories, including English-language and Chinese-language news reporting, feature writing, business news reporting, arts and culture news reporting, technology news reporting, news video reporting, new-media reporting, and news photography.
Since 2012, more than 20,000 journalism students from about 100 universities of the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have taken part in the competition with over 7,000 entries. More than 100 veteran journalists, journalism scholars and government officials participated in the event as judges.
Contact the writer at oswald@chinadailyhk.com
