Newspaper awards seem to reward the big yawns

WHEN Ta Kung Pao walked away with the grand prize at the Hong Kong News Award 2000 earlier this month, many journalists at the presentation ceremony were puzzled. After all, there were obviously other more notable entrants than the paper's six-part feature on China's scheme to develop its Western hinterland.

The daily had despatched 21 journalists to work on the series, which was also named the winner of the Best Feature category. This is the first time that Ta Kung Pao has done so well in the annual event organised by the Newspaper Society. Most of the 27 judges were university heads and presidents of various business bodies. The organiser has not disclosed its judging criteria or the final scores for each entrant.

The most talked about news story last year was undoubtedly the Apple Daily's expose of former legislator Gary Cheng Kai-nam's alleged abuse of public office. The issue eclipsed other campaign topics, and he subsequently had to give up his seat on Hong Kong Island, resulting in a by-election. Despite its leading role in the coverage of the controversy, the paper only received first runner-up in the General News category. It had to play second fiddle to the Hong Kong Economic Times' series on the September 2000 elections to the Legislative Council. Even some of those who received awards agreed they had found Apple's coverage of the Cheng scandal more deserving.

Reporters may cherish exclusive and explosive stories that have an impact on how society functions, but the judges were apparently unimpressed by such criteria. The panel for the Writing and Page Design section was headed by an honorary chairman of the Newspaper Society, novelist Louis Cha. He hailed the Ta Kung Pao series as 'representative of the best standards of news writing in Hong Kong'. In a brief interview with RTHK's Media Watch, he noted 'objectivity' was a major factor. But he did not elaborate on what made that series stand out.

Established in 1902, Ta Kung Pao is the oldest existing Chinese newspaper. There are now 15 local dailies in town. The three pro-Beijing papers - Ta Kung Pao, Wen Wei Po and Hong Kong Commercial Daily - are among the bottom five in terms of readership.

It is reasonable to assume that less than one per cent of residents were aware of the Ta Kung Pao series, let alone read it. Its articles last November covered topics such as 'desertification' and inadequate infrastructure. Although informative, these reports do not strike readers as forceful.