CUHK Journalism Award named
Cable’s So Kai-chi as the Winner

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Journalism and Communication Alumni Association (CUHK-JCAA) announced today that Mr. Edgar So Kai-chi, principal reporter of Cable News Channel, Hong Kong Cable Television Limited, has been awarded the 1st “CUHK Journalism Award”. The association announced also that Mr. Kevin Lau Chun-to, editorial writer of Ming Pao Daily News, and Miss Sharon Cheung Po-wah, senior reporter of Cable News Channel, both have been awarded “Certificate of Merit”.
The 1st CUHK Journalism Award was organized by the CUHK-JCAA to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and to applaud the achievements of young journalists who have outstanding performance in reporting and have contributed significantly to the development of the journalism profession in Hong Kong, said Mr. Leung Tin-wai, chairman of the Organizing Committee of the CUHK Journalism Award.

Mr. Edgar So Kai-chi, winner of the “CUHK Journalism Award”, entered the competition with three pieces of work, “Before the Epidemic Spread – Guangdong/Hong Kong”, “Blood from the Mountains/Rural Debt” and “Forbidden Birth”. Mrs. Sally Lam, one of the judges, commented that Mr. So’s “overall performance is excellent” and his works are “in-depth, comprehensive and rational in revealing social problems”.

Mr. So was happy that his work and ideas were appreciated. He felt deeply the importance of free flow of information and the role of Hong Kong media when he worked on “Before the Epidemic Spread– Guangdong/Hong Kong”.

“There are often setbacks in covering the Mainland,” said Mr. So. “However, as long as a journalist insists on not spinning or speculating, local officials are willing to cooperate when they understand that the journalist is just reporting the facts.” He is convinced that journalists should carry the responsibility to serve society and to speak for the underprivileged.

Initially, the organizer planned only to give one award. Nevertheless, considering the very competitive quality of the entries, the panel suggested honoring Mr. Kevin Lau Chun-to and Miss Sharon Cheung Po-wah each with a “Certificate of Merit”.

Mr. Lau entered the competition with a series of analytical writings and commentaries on the impacts of Article 23 legislation on press freedom. “Mr. Lau uses his professional knowledge in the legal field to analyze the core issues and thus helps readers to make better judgments,” commented Professor Leonard Chu, one of the judges. The panel was impressed by Mr. Lau’s contributions to lift the standards of the journalism profession.

Mr. Lau said he did not expect to win a prize when he entered the competition. He felt pleased and honored to be awarded the certificate, though he thought that good work itself was already a reward. Being an editorial writer for Mingpao Daily News, Mr. Lau said that a good editorial should be persuasive and constructive in suggestions, and, more importantly, objective in its arguments.

The other recipient of a “Certificate of Merit”, Miss Sharon Cheung Po-wah entered the competition with “Questioning the Imperial Appointment of the Chief Executive: Jiang Zemin Roared Back at HK Reporters, ‘TOO SIMPLE, SOMETIMES NAIVE'”, “Human Rights of Chinese Lepers”, and “Guangzhou-HK Cooperation: Guangzhou Mayor Chastised HK Media Craving for Chaos”. Mrs. Sally Lam appreciated Miss Cheung’s “Too simple, sometimes naive” questioning style and said reporters should avoid being overly sophisticated. She said Miss Cheung’s simple and direct questioning skills, her courage to stand up to authorities and her calm and factual reporting style worked to live up the spirit of journalism. Another judge, Mr. Ng Ming-lam echoed the comments on Miss Cheung’s courage to ask questions. “There is no naive question, only naive answer,” he added.

Miss Cheung was happy to see her work appreciated. She was surprised to win the honor because she has witnessed the fine work of many other reporters who contributed silently to the field. “As long as I’m still curious and passionate about news and still ponder the meanings behind what I hear, I will stay to guard the news profession,” said Miss Cheung, who has been a journalist for eight years.

The CUHK Journalism Award was decided by a panel of judges consisting of Professor Edward K.Y. Chen, chairman of Hong Kong Press Council and President of Lingnan University; Professor Leonard L. Chu, chair professor and director of the Centre for Media and Communication Research, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University; Mrs. Sally Lam, director of Hong Kong Economic Journal; Mr. C.K. Lau, executive editor (News) of South China Morning Post; Professor Paul S.N. Lee, director and professor of School of Journalism and Communication, CUHK; Mr. Leung Tin-wai, media consultant and adjunct professor of the School of Journalism and Communication, CUHK, and, Mr. Ng Ming-lam, consultant of Metro Broadcast.

The winner of the Grand Prize was awarded a cash prize of HK$20,000, a trophy, and a certificate. The award presentation ceremony was officiated by Mr. Allan K.K. Leong, S.C., former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association.

第一屆中大新聞獎 2003年10月24日
「中大新聞獎」選舉揭盅

有線電視蘇啟智奪魁
香港中文大學新聞與傳播學院校友會（簡稱中大新傳校友會）為慶祝中大創校四十周年特別舉辦的第一屆「中大新聞獎」選舉，結果今日在頒獎典禮上揭曉，大獎由有線電視首席記者蘇啟智奪得，而明報主筆劉進圖及有線電視高級記者張寶華分別獲頒「傑出表現獎」。

「中大新聞獎」籌委會主席梁天偉說，大會希望選出既在新聞工作上表現出色，又在提升新聞操守及專業水平等方面有突出表現和貢獻的年青新聞從業員。

榮獲大獎的有線電視首席記者蘇啟智以《疫症蔓延前——廣東/香港》、《泥土黎民系列之賣血鄉及鄉債》及《天下第一難》三套作品參選。評審委員林駱友梅讚揚蘇啟智「整體表現出色，理性揭示問題，深入全面」。

蘇啟智對獲獎感到高興，認為這是對他的報道工作的肯定，也是對他想法的認同。參選作品之一《疫症蔓延前：廣東/香港》的採訪經歷令他感受很深，他說沙士事件凸顯了香港傳媒不可取替的角色，香港有珍貴的資訊流通自由，這正是國內所欠缺的。他說：「我在內地採訪常會問自己，我是否幫到被訪者，會否為他帶來更多麻煩？有時候採訪會遇到阻礙，但我相信只要堅持不誇大作假，讓當地人及官員相信這個記者是報道真確的事實，他們自然會與你合作。」他認為一個記者必須富有責任感，為社會的弱勢群體發聲。

大會原本只設一個獎項，但由於參選者的水準甚高，評審團建議頒發「傑出表現獎」予兩位表現突出的參選者。

奪得「傑出表現獎」的分別是明報主筆劉進圖及有線電視高級記者張寶華。劉進圖的參選作品為基本法23條立法的一系列分析和評論文章，闡述了立法建議對新聞自由的影響。評審委員朱立教授讚揚劉進圖「利用他在法律方面的專業知識去分析問題的核心，幫助讀者作出判斷」。評審團認為劉進圖在提升新聞專業水平的貢獻很大，獲得「傑出表現獎」乃實至名歸。

劉進圖坦言沒想過會獲獎。他稱，獲獎當然感到高興及榮幸，但最大的滿足感來自工作本身。為明報撰寫社評的他認為，好的評論必須具有說服力，及對社會有益有建設性，更重要的是要有客觀的論證支持。

另一位獲「傑出表現獎」的張寶華以《追問中央欽定特首，江澤民怒斥香港記者「TOO SIMPLE, SOMETIMES NAIVE」》、《探討中國痲瘋病人人權問題》及《追問粵港合作問題，廣州市長斥港傳媒惟恐天下不亂》三套作品參選。林駱友梅認為，新聞記者最忌過於世故，張寶華的 「Too simple, sometimes naive」表現了前線記者簡單直接的提問，權貴前的不卑不亢和如實報道的冷靜不造作，充分發揮一則新聞的言有盡、意無窮。評審委員之一的吳明林盛讚張寶華勇於提問，他說：「從來沒有幼稚的問題，祇有幼稚的答案。」

張寶華對工作得到認同感到很高興，她說完全沒預計到自己會獲獎，因為新聞界中有很多出色的默默耕耘的記者。從事新聞工作八年的她說:「只要我一日對新聞仍有求知欲及衝勁，聽到一個消息仍會思考背後的含意，我就會繼續留守在新聞行業。」

是次「中大新聞獎」的評審團成員為香港報業評議會主席及嶺南大學校長陳坤耀、香港浸會大學傳理學院講座教授兼媒介與傳播研究中心主任朱立、信報董事林駱友梅、南華早報執行總編輯(新聞)劉志權、中大新聞與傳播學院院長李少南、傳媒顧問及香港中文大學新聞與傳播學院兼任教授梁天偉，以及新城電台顧問吳明林。

「中大新聞獎」大獎得主可獲獎金港幣兩萬元，獎座及獎狀。頒獎典禮由大律師公會前主席梁家傑資深大律師主禮。

二零零三年十月二十四日