Post 'class apart' in press awards
The South China Morning Post was last night named one of Asia's best newspapers by the region's leading newspaper organisation, adding to a string of more than 40 accolades the paper has received this year.
The Post was voted runner-up as Newspaper of the Year by the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association (Panpa).
The paper's entry emphasised our design changes in March that have aimed to bring readers a cleaner and more accessible look, making it more dynamic and well-structured, as well as focusing on our in-depth coverage of Greater China and international news and analysis.
The recent relaunch of website www.scmp.com and our new investor relations site www.scmpir.com also featured heavily.
Judges also honoured the Post with three other first-class awards in its category of daily newspaper with a 50,000-plus circulation. There was one win in each of the contest's two technical categories for printing quality, and a top award for sports photography.
Post editor C.K. Lau said of the awards: 'They are a recognition of our high standards on many fronts and a tribute to the contributions of past and present colleagues in making the Post a great newspaper.'
It is the fourth year running that judges have recognised the Post's pre-eminence in printing, with first prize for overall technical excellence in newspaper printing on a double-width press, and the seventh award in eight years for technical excellence in printing a supplement section on a double-width press.
One judge said the Post had been 'a class apart, and should be thoroughly proud' of the quality of printing it gives readers.
It is also the Post's second photography award in a row, following a merit award last year. This year's win was for a dramatic action shot by veteran Post photographer K.Y. Cheng at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens in March, showing Simione Saravanua of Fiji eluding Scottish tacklers in the quarter-finals.
Panpa is the biggest industry association in the Asia-Pacific, with nearly 200 newspaper groups as members.
This year's awards were presented last night at the annual conference in Melbourne.
Winner of Newspaper of the Year was Melbourne daily The Age.