Negative news is the media 'fulfilling its mission': Carrie Lam
At news awards ceremony, Carrie Lam praises the press despite scoops that affected her boss
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor yesterday expressed her appreciation for the tough job the press faced in reporting negative news, including some that had embarrassed her boss.
Officiating at the 2012 News Awards prize presentation ceremony in which the South China Morning Post won 11 prizes, Lam said it was newspapers' mission to unmask secrets. "Some of the award-winning scoops today may not be a delight to see, but … they are fulfilling the mission of the press," she said.
Two of the three Best Scoop awards went to Ming Pao's reports on the illegal structures in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and his election rival Henry Tang Ying-yen's homes.
Leung was to have officiated at the ceremony, but his office said three weeks ago that he could not make it.
The Post's China reporter Minnie Chan and business news editor Denise Tsang took the top prizes in the best news and business writing in English categories, respectively. Reporter Charlotte So won second runner-up for best business news writing in English. Five Post journalists - Sandy Li, Peggy Sito, George Chen, Paggie Leung and Niall Fraser - won second runner-up in best business news reporting.
Photographers, including Felix Wong, Sam Tsang and Cheng Kok-yin, bagged five awards in the news and sports photography sections. Richard Kirk and Bonny Schoonakker also won prizes for best headlines in English.